ICMR invites EOI to develop In Vitro kits for drug-resistant strains

Grappling with two highly antibiotic resistant strains of typhoid fever, India is now scouting for indigenously developed improved point of care (POC) test that can help distinguish the duo variants so as to ensure effective management of the life-threatening disease.

In this connection, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) under the Union Health Ministry has invited expression of interest (EOI) from the manufacturers and research institutes for development of diagnostic In Vitro kits for diagnosis of the drug resistant strains.

The move follows concerns that existing typhoid diagnostic tests, such as the Widal test, TUBEX, Typhidot, and Test-It (KIT), have shown sub-optimal sensitivity and specificity to the two serovars namely Salomenella. Typhi (S. Typhi) and Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi (S. Paratyphi) which have become resistance to many antibiotics.

Moreover, the S Typhi and S Paratyphi strains are indistinguishable, thus making it crucial for clinicians to differentiate between them before starting antibiotic therapy due to their different antibiotic susceptibility profiles, said an ICMR scientist on the need for next generation in vitro kits.

“There is an urgent need for indigenously developed, improved typhoid POC tests that offer higher sensitivity and specificity. Such tests would enable healthcare professionals to promptly and accurately diagnose typhoid, leading to more appropriate and targeted treatment, which in turn, could result in better patient outcomes and reduced antibiotic misuse,” further added the scientist.

While the morbidity and mortality of S. Typhi make it a greater public health concern, the increasing prevalence of S. Paratyphi in certain regions necessitates a next-generation diagnostic test capable of detecting both the strains, she explained.

Improved disease diagnostics will support the government in guiding interventions program efforts to prevent the diseases, said the ICMR scientist on the need for the next generation detection kit.

“S. Typhi, the bacterium responsible for typhoid fever, has developed resistance to multiple antibiotics, including three firstline agents. India is bearing a high burden of the disease. It is estimated that there are 11-21 million cases of enteric fever worldwide each year, resulting in 120,000-160,000 deaths.

“Due to lack of proper diagnosis and heterogeneity of disease, the exact burden of disease is unclear but extrapolation of regional data estimates 586 cases per 100,000 person-years typhoid/paratyphoid incidence in India,” said the scientist. Daily Pioneer