Public Health
Monitoring antibiotic resistance in hospitals
The problem
Public health - Strategies for a Healthier Society
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the largest threat to the advancements of modern medicine. It not only complicates the treatment of infections but also heightens the risks associated with medical procedures such as surgery, cesarean sections, and cancer chemotherapy. This issue affects all countries across all income levels and regions globally; however, its impact is most severe on low- and middle-income countries due to existing poverty and inequality.
Higher concentrations of antibiotic resistance genes occur in environments impacted by heavy antibiotics use, such as near urban areas, hospitals and intensive agricultural regions. Antibiotics are vital to our healthcare, and it is essential to ensure that they continue to be effective for as long as possible. Therefore, it is imperative to establish comprehensive and robust routine monitoring alongside stewardship initiatives to prevent its further spread.
was when the last class of antibiotics was discovered.
It takes on average 10-15 years for a new antibiotic to reach clinical stages. It takes on average 3 years for resistance to be reported.
How we can help
Compare trends over time
Through the monitoring of environmental DNA in locations such as hospital wastewater, profiles of antibiotic resistance can be anonymously detected within communities. This data can serve as an early alert system over time, enabling the identification of worrisome trends in resistance and the implementation of necessary measures to curb further transmission.
Support stewardship
Antibiotic stewardship plays a crucial role in the battle against antibiotic resistance. By incorporating routine surveillance, we can enhance decision-making with additional data-driven factors, ultimately boosting efficiency and aiding antibiotic stewardship programs in making informed choices regarding antibiotic treatment selection and dosages.
Pre-screening isolates
The analysis of clinical antibiotic resistance frequently requires the examination of isolates, typically involving sequencing technologies such as whole genome sequencing (WGS). However, WGS can be expensive and time-consuming. Resistomap services present an option for preliminary screening of the isolates that would undergo WGS analysis, which effectively could minimize the costs and workload by making the selection of isolates for WGS more targeted.
Benefits
Targeted surveillance
Reduce randomness and save cost for utilising methods as WGS, by screening for AMR prior to processing isolates
Disease control
Protect public health by adding an additional layer to disease control procedures to the healthcare system.
New insights
Utilise new data insights to enable long-term strategies to mitigate risks of increased resistance and infection control
Monitor antibiotic resistance with our cutting-edge technology
Contact us to see how our biosecurity intelligence platform can benefit your organization