The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) will soon launch single and multicentric task force project in pneumonia which has been the leading single cause of childhood mortality across the world and especially in India.

The apex research body has already invited proposals for the project in the priority areas like epidemiological, clinical and health system research. The epidemiological study will be held to determine etiological agents, antimicrobial susceptibility, change over time from tertiary to community level.

Worldwide, there are 156 million cases of pneumonia per year, of which 151 million cases occur in developing world, half of which are in India. Of these, 7-13 per cent are severe and life threatening, contributing to nearly 19 per cent of all deaths in children below 5 years of age, according to the estimates.

The study will also cover risk factors for pneumonia (role of micronutrients, breastfeeding, Vit D, indoor air pollution etc), role of atypical micro organism and ARI in HIV infected children, clinical algorithm for diagnosis of pneumonia specially in newborns and young infants, biomarkers for diagnosis of pneumonia, and use of molecular technique (PCR based method) for better and specific detection of infection due to wide range of microbial agents, according to ICMR sources.

The project also aims to conduct clinical studies on the treatment protocol for pneumonia in neonates and young infants, improved case management strategy at community setting, feasibility study for incorporating metered dose inhalers at primary healthcare setting, oral antimicrobial treatment for severe pneumonia, and home based care for severe pneumonia.

Strengthening health care facility and capacity building of healthcare providers to increase their presence in the community, strategies to improve utilization of facilities by communities/improve outcomes of children brought to the facility, and rational use of antibiotic treatment and cost effectiveness study of implementing best practices at various level of health care will also be covered under the project. The ICMR has already invited proposals from the scientists both from the public and private sector to hold the studies.