KARACHI: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has formally introduced "Bug & Drug," an innovative Clinical Decision Support (CDS) application designed to aid healthcare professionals in the treatment of infectious diseases by promoting the evidence-based and responsible use of antimicrobial medicines according to local clinical needs.
According to Dow University of Health Sciences, the application was launched at the Sindh Infectious Diseases Hospital & Research Centre by Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazli Hossain. During the ceremony, Prof. Hossain highlighted the limited number of infectious disease specialists in Pakistan, especially in secondary-care hospitals, and emphasized that the app could provide necessary guidance to doctors at the patient's bedside. She also noted the importance of regularly updating the app with data from local hospitals to ensure its continued relevance and effectiveness.
The app's core function is to assist healthcare professionals in identifying the correct pathogen and selecting the appropriate antimicrobial treatment, taking into account Pakistan's medical and local context while adhering to international standards. Features of the application include Quick ID Consult, Creatinine Clearance calculators, and a NEWS2 tool to assess patient risk levels, among others.
Former Vice Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Saeed Quraishy expressed hope for the app's widespread adoption, acknowledging recurrent infections as a significant clinical challenge. Dr. Muneeba Ahsan Saeed, involved in the app's development, explained that it supports doctors in making informed clinical decisions without replacing medical specialists.
The app also includes a Culture-Guided Therapy component that offers a prioritised list of potential medicines based on infection site, culture results, and identified organism. It provides comprehensive information on antimicrobial resistance, vaccination schedules, and connects patients with appropriate healthcare facilities across Pakistan.
Speakers at the launch, including Prof. Dr Syed Faisal Mahmood, emphasized the app's importance in the Pakistani context and urged healthcare professionals to provide feedback for its improvement. Dr. Abdul Wahid Rajput and Dr. Izhar Hussain discussed global health challenges such as antimicrobial resistance and the need for evidence-based clinical decision-making, noting the app's alignment with these objectives.
"Bug & Drug" also features a bug-reporting system to facilitate ongoing enhancements, aiming to improve clinical decision-making in infectious disease treatment and combat antimicrobial resistance in Pakistan. The launch event was attended by a diverse group of specialists, doctors, and researchers involved in the app's development.