title: Convergence of Minds: For Better Patient Outcome in Intensive Care Unit Infections.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is emergence of resistance to the last-line antibiotics such as carbapenems in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), leaving little effective therapeutic options. Since there are no more newer antibiotics in the armamentarium in the near future, it has become imperative that we harness the interdisciplinary knowledge for the best clinical outcome of the patient.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the conference was to utilize the synergies between the clinical microbiologists and critical care specialists for better patient care and clinical outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  A combined continuing medical education program (CME) under the aegis of the Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter and the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, Delhi and national capital region was organized to share their expertise on the various topics covering epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention of hospital-acquired infections in ICUs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was agreed that synergy between the clinical microbiologists and critical care medicine is required in understanding the scope of laboratory tests, investigative pathway testing, hospital epidemiology, and optimum use of antibiotics. A consensus on the use of rapid diagnostics such as point-of-care tests, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, and molecular tests for the early diagnosis of infectious disease was made. It was agreed that stewardship activities along with hospital infection control practices should be further strengthened for better utilization of the antibiotics. Through this CME, we identified the barriers and actionables for appropriate antimicrobial usage in Indian ICUs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A close coordination between clinical microbiology and critical care medicine opens up avenues to improve antimicrobial prescription practices.
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Chand
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wattal
authors.affiliation: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Yash
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Javeri
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Neeraj
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.affiliation: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Debashish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dhar
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sarman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Jaswinder Kaur
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Oberoi
authors.affiliation: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Purva
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mathur
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manchanda
authors.affiliation: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vivek
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nangia
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Arti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kapil
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rattan
authors.affiliation: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Supradip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.affiliation: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Omender
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vinod
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Iqbal
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sanghamitra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.affiliation: Indian Association of Medical Microbiologists - Delhi Chapter, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Sharmila Sen
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Gupta
keywords: Antimicrobial stewardship; Intensive Care Unit; clinical microbiologists; critical care; synergy