Tag: Antimicrobial resistance

Postcards from Kampala: Data and Dashboards in Uganda

Nina Zhu enjoying coffee and a chat with Dr Sanjeev Singh, CAMO-Net India lead
Nina Zhu enjoying coffee and a chat with Dr Sanjeev Singh, CAMO-Net India lead

The Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network (CAMO-Net) recently convened an insightful meeting at Makerere University in Uganda. This international event brought together researchers dedicated to the critical challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Throughout the week, attendees engaged in a series of informative presentations exploring data-driven approaches to optimising antibiotic use. Hear first-hand from Dr Nina Zhu from the Department of Infectious Disease on what her experience at the event was like. 

I recently returned from Kampala, Uganda, where I spent an incredible week at Makerere University for the Centres for Antimicrobial Optimisation Network (CAMO-Net) event. Colleagues from around the world came together in Kampala to share knowledge, take part in workshops, and learn more about the work our Uganda National Hub does to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Africa and beyond. 

Data and Dashboards for Optimising Antibiotic Use 

The event’s theme was ‘Data and Dashboards’. Harnessing the power of data through strategic and targeted studies to generate new knowledge related to optimising antimicrobial use is a key theme of CAMO-Net. As my work focuses on using data linkage and system dynamics modelling to understand healthcare-associated infections and AMR, it was a perfect week for me!  

I was joined in Kampala by CAMO-Net members from four other countries: Brazil, India, Malawi, and South Africa. We received such a warm welcome from our Ugandan hosts and started the week with a networking session at a local restaurant. At the reception, Dr Andrew Kambugu, CAMO-Net Uganda lead and head of Makerere’s Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) gave a fascinating showcase of IDI’s history. It was a perfect blend of networking and getting to know more about the impressive strides IDI has made in infectious diseases, data, and AMR. 

Professor Umar Kakumba, the 1st Deputy Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, and Dr Andrew Kambugu, CAMO-Net Uganda lead, welcomed the whole CAMO-Net team

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The Fleming Centre: Driving the fight against antimicrobial resistance.

Prof Ara Darzi, Chair, The Fleming Centre Initiative 

In the relentless pursuit of global health, few adversaries loom as large as antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR poses a pervasive threat to both different disease areas and public health as a whole. It has the potential to undermine modern medicine, as previously treatable common infections and injuries may once again become life-threatening. As the gravity of this crisis intensifies, The Fleming Centre will stand at the forefront of a burgeoning global movement to combat AMR. On World Antimicrobial Awareness Week,  Professor Ara Darzi, Chair of The Fleming Centre Initiative, writes about the pivotal role this centre will play in the fight against AMR and the far-reaching impact it promises to deliver.  

AMR poses a significant threat to global health, making it one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Drug-resistant infections occur when the bacteria responsible for the adaption and evolution of infections, gain the capacity to withstand drugs intended to kill them. The overuse and misuse of antimicrobial drugs, such as antibiotics and antifungals, in both humans and animals is only accelerating this process. As a result, AMR has been linked to more than one million deaths worldwide each year; a sign common infections are becoming increasingly difficult to treat as the medicines we all rely on become less effective. With people across the globe already dying from drug-resistant infections, the threat of more drugs losing their potency, will put more lives at risk.  

Deaths attributed to AMR every year
Source: Wellcome Trust (https://wellcome.org/sites/default/files/wellcome-global-response-amr-report.pdf)

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A social science approach to tackling antimicrobial resistance

This World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, Dr Esmita Charani discusses co-developing a Massive Open Online Course on how a social science perspective can fight the problem of antimicrobial resistance.

As part of an ESRC funded international research programme investigating antibiotic use in surgical care, we had the opportunity to collaborate with another ESRC funded research team at the University of Oxford to develop an e-learning course to share the learning from the methods we used and the findings of our work.

Partnering with the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC), we developed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), focusing on how we can use qualitative research to capture what challenges healthcare workers face in optimising antibiotic use in different countries. Working with our international collaborators and colleagues, we brought together a multidisciplinary expert faculty. (more…)

Tackling drug resistant infection through collaborative global action

Imperial’s Dr Esmita Charani and Dr Jamal Uddin, Child Health Research Foundation (CHRF), observing field work surveillance conducted by CHRF healthcare workers in Bangladesh as part of the demographic and disease surveillance initiatives aimed at reducing childhood morbidity and mortality.

Ahead of the recent G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, Professor Alison Holmes explained in an article for G20 Magazine why global collaboration is essential to minimising the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on healthcare.

The world faces the unprecedented challenge of drug resistant infection due to increasing AMR. Concerted global action is needed to address this pressing and alarming public health issue. Without a strong, unified response, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be met, and valuable progress will be lost.

The need for leadership

The continued inclusion of AMR in the G20 agenda, under the leadership of Argentina, is greatly welcomed. This year I was invited to speak in Buenos Aires on initiatives to optimise antibiotic use, at the International Congress on Infectious Diseases, co-hosted by the Infectious Diseases Society of Argentina. The ethos of shared learning and strong leadership was central in our discussions, and considered fundamental to effective action. (more…)