IDAR-Neo - Identification and characterization of fecal carriage of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in neonates in low-resource settings

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global health.

The situation is particularly alarming in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), since easy-to-use tools for identifying AMR bacteria are lacking.

The goal of this project is to develop and use two fluorescence microscope-based assays to detect carriage and infections of AMR bacteria. The project is a collaboration with the neonatal ward at Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es-Salaam, Tanzania. Tanzania is one of ca 85 LMICs where simple fluorescence microscopes are used to diagnose tuberculosis.

We will repurpose these microscopes for AMR detection assays, which means that there is no cost for infrastructure. We will focus on neonates because they are a highly vulnerable population prone to acquire hospital infections. We believe that interventions based on this project will have immediate clinical impact on neonatal care.

However, the methods developed are applicable in any hospital ward. The first assay is based on PNA-FISH and can be used to identify AMR bacteria in complex samples. We will focus on detecting K. pneumoniae and E. coli in fecal samples. The second is a genetic analysis that will identify resistance genes in the detected bacteria.

The project includes assay development in Sweden, a screen for AMR bacteria at the neonatal ward at MNH, teaching of the assays to MNH staff, and implementation of the assays for infection control interventions in the neonatal ward at MNH.