Whole-genome sequencing as part of national and international surveillance programmes for antimicrobial resistance

A roadmap

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21880502
AutoresNIHR Global Health Research Unit on Genomic Surveillance of AMR
Año2020
Volumen5
Número11
Páginase002244
Fecha de publicación2020-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaBMJ Global Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2059-7908 • E-ISSN: 2059-7908
EditorialBMJ (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002244
PMID33239336
OpenAlexW3184260509
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12
Referencias citadas72

The global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and lack of novel alternative treatments have been declared a global public health emergency by WHO. The greatest impact of AMR is experienced in resource-poor settings, because of lack of access to alternative antibiotics and because the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains may be higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Intelligent surveillance of AMR infections is key to informed policy decisions and public health interventions to counter AMR. Molecular surveillance using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) can be a valuable addition to phenotypic surveillance of AMR. WGS provides insights into the genetic basis of resistance mechanisms, as well as pathogen evolution and population dynamics at different spatial and temporal scales. Due to its high cost and complexity, WGS is currently mainly carried out in high-income countries. However, given its potential to inform national and international action plans against AMR, establishing WGS as a surveillance tool in LMICs will be important in order to produce a truly global picture. Here, we describe a roadmap for incorporating WGS into existing AMR surveillance frameworks, including WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System, informed by our ongoing, practical experiences developing WGS surveillance systems in national reference laboratories in Colombia, India, Nigeria and the Philippines. Challenges and barriers to WGS in LMICs will be discussed together with a roadmap to possible solutions

Antibiotic resistance · Antibiotics · Biology · Environmental health · Genome · Global health · Population · Psychological intervention · Public health · Public health surveillance · Whole genome sequencing · Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria · Antibiotic Use and Resistance · Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing · Medicine · Genetics