Projects

This study establishes routine clinical surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) within a network of hospitals across Asia and Africa. By collecting microbiology and clinical data from 2,500 patients at each participating hospital, ACORN goes beyond the sample-based approach of the WHO GLASS program. This broader data collection allows for a more detailed analysis, including classifying infection syndromes, identifying infection origins, and tracking patient outcomes.

A Clinically-Oriented Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (ACORN) is a multicentre study which aims to implement an efficient clinically-oriented AMR surveillance system, incorporated as part of routine workflow in low- and middle-income country settings (LMICs). A Clinically-Oriented Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network for Healthcare-associated Infections (ACORN-HAI), which hinges on established ACORN platform, and focuses on severe HAIs. The prevalence of HAI has been estimated to be between 6% and 19% by the WHO in a 2016 report. Bloodstream infections (BSI) and Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were associated with the highest excess mortality of 24% and 29% respectively in Latin America, Asia and Africa adult patients. The overall aim of this study is to implement a large-scale multi-centre patient-centered surveillance network for AMR with a focus on severe HAI infections especially BSI and VAP, and also to form groundwork for subsequent interventional clinical trials targeting MDR infections including capacity building of microbiology laboratories, data collection and data sharing platforms. This study is a prospective cohort study of patients with HA-BSI or VAP. Patients receiving antibiotic treatment for BSI or VAP, with infections beginning more than 2 days after admission will be eligible for enrolment. The patient’s data will be collected on multiple exposures (infection episode) and outcomes (mortality) on paper CRF (Case report form) and later to REDCap database. Patients will be followed up for 28 days after the last HA-BSI or VAP infection episode. The outcome of this study will be applicable in knowing the incidence and prevalence of multidrug resistant organism in HA-BSI or VAP quantified in terms of hospitalisation, patient bed-days and microbiology cultures. And, also to identify HA-BSI or VAP by pathogen, antibiotic resistance phenotype. Furthermore, it can be useful for formulating the strategies to improve the infection prevention and control policies, guiding resource allocation, and motivating novel treatment therapy clinical trials.

The project aims to develop and validate a novel framework for future surveillance, benchmarking and population-based interventional trials of optimal antibiotic use in low- and middle-income primary care settings.

The project created opportunities for children and teenagers to access books and media to improve their basic knowledge on malaria and chances to discuss about the research.

This project aims to conduct a nationwide assessment of the current state of implementation of hospital ASPs across all 37 provinces to inform stakeholders on the current stage of AMS implementation, their barriers and enablers, and to estimate the impact of COVID-19 at a local level.

This study developed a mathematical model to understand how human movement in Greater Jakarta influenced the spread of COVID-19.

This study helps identify factors associated with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment success and will significantly contribute to the evidence base for the development of MDR-TB treatment regimens in the MDR-TB management programme in Vietnam.

This study aims to investigate the causes of the substantial heterogeneity in treatment responses and outcomes from drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis.

The PediPOT study aims to understand and improve outcomes for children with tuberculous meningitis in Vietnam and Indonesia by examining its effects on both mortality and neurodevelopment, assessing various clinical, laboratory, and imaging features, as well as exploring genetic and metabolic factors influencing disease severity and prognosis.

ABACUS phase I (2016-2019) explored antibiotic use and access practices in 6 LMICs and revealed the importance of a context and cultural tailored approach to address responsible antibiotic use in each country. ABACUS phase II (2020-) builds on findings from phase I and aims to investigate the idea of an harmonised physical appearance of antibiotics to facilitate identification from patients and health care professionals.