The General Directorate of Medicines, Supplies and Drugs (Digemid) of the Ministry of Health announced on March 27 that it is strengthening the skills of health professionals through key tools such as microbiological mapping. The aim is to optimize antibiotic prescriptions and improve care for patients with infections, as part of efforts to contain the advance of antimicrobial resistance in Peru.
Antimicrobial resistance, including antibiotic resistance, has become a global public health crisis linked to excessive and inappropriate use of these drugs in humans, animals, and crops. This phenomenon has led to bacteria developing increasingly complex resistance mechanisms, reducing available treatment options and increasing hospital morbidity, mortality rates, and costs.
Microbiological maps are being used as an epidemiological tool that helps identify the frequency, distribution, and sensitivity profiles of microorganisms in healthcare facilities. These maps allow clinicians to make timely decisions even before culture results are available.
In Peru, Digemid is responsible for promoting and supervising Antimicrobial Use Optimization Programs (Proa) under Technical Health Standard No. 184-MINSA/DIGEMID-2022. The agency also provides technical assistance for proper implementation across hospitals nationwide.
The event features national experts from several institutions—including the National Institute of Health; Dos de Mayo National Hospital; National Institute for Child Health – Breña; Villa El Salvador Emergency Hospital; and Guillermo Almenara National Hospital—who will discuss topics such as creating microbiological maps and using Whonet software developed by a World Health Organization Collaborating Center for monitoring antimicrobial resistance.
This virtual meeting targets health professionals from both public and private second- and third-level healthcare establishments as well as members from regional health directorates (Diresa), management units (Geresa), integrated health networks (Diris), and the Multisectoral Commission against Antimicrobial Resistance.
