September 2017
Prioritising Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Establishing an Interdisciplinary International Research Partnership to Tackle an Evolving Global Health Threat
The AMR-IRPN network is a research partnership between six institutions that provides a cross-disciplinary approach to one of the most pressing global health threats of our time.
Established in 2016, IRPN works across several countries, and fosters a number of external connections that will allow the team to develop a global surveillance network to better understand and respond to the emergence of AMR.
The expertise within the network includes molecular microbiology, clinical microbiology and infectious diseases, as well as international relations, policy, anthropology and development studies.
Following the initial network meeting in October 2016 at BSMS, a second meeting took place in in Cairo, Egypt on 25 & 26 July 2017 with the aim of reviewing the joint research goals, foster South-South collaboration and share knowledge and expertise in tackling AMR regionally. Dr. Leena Al- Hassan, one of the architects of the network, and Professor Melanie Newport from the Global Health and Infection department at BSMS were both present at the meeting. In addition to capacity building, the network will now focus on carrying out 6-month pilot projects that will fall into two broad categories:
- The first will look at the molecular epidemiology of gram-negative (GN) resistance in Cairo and Sudan and the role of MRSA in the intensive care unit.
- The second category of work will focus on developing antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention control strategies in two North African countries including evaluating the need for increased educational resources.
The implementation of the projects will be discussed at the follow up IRPN meeting in January 2018, and the results of the pilot studies will be discussed at an IRPN meeting in Summer 2018, followed by consolidation of data and finalisation of larger funding application to develop this work further, which may include expansion to the community.
Workshop on Horizontal Gene Transfer and Mobile Genetic Elements as Vehicles for Transmission of Antibiotic Resistance in Gram-negative bacteria
Leena additionally held a workshop at the NCI in Cairo on mobile genetic elements and their role in horizontal gene transfer of resistance in Gram-negative bacteria as part of the capacity building initiative of the network. The workshop was attended by 25 participants from different universities around Egypt.
BSUH clinical microbiology team to provide training in Cairo University
A new sequencer (MiSeq) will be installed in Cairo University, and the microbiology team there require training on using the machine, reagents, and interpretation of the results, which will be provided by the clinical microbiology team at BSUH (Kevin Cole and Dr James Price). Training exchange visits will take place between researchers at Cairo University and BSUH from October 2017.
Further capacity building initiatives for the AMR- IPRN include:
- Training on MiSeq set up (first exchange visit to be held in BSUH in October 2017), to be followed by a trip to Cairo in December 2017
- Sequencing workshop at the NCI in November 2017 by Dr Paul Higgins
- Training of laboratory staff on manual microbiology laboratory methodology in Sudan
- Workshop on AMR for junior/early career doctors and healthcare workers in Egypt.