Drivers of Resistance in Uganda and Malawi: The DRUM Consortium

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The discovery and development of antibiotics is one of the great scientific achievements of the 20th Century, however it rapidly became clear that bacteria quickly become resistant to these lifesaving agents, and the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is now a problem of global concern. The poorest nations on Earth frequently have the greatest burden of severe and life threatening infections, and these nations are likely to suffer most from the spread of untreatable bacteria. There is much that is unknown about how antibiotic resistance spreads globally and this is particularly true of sub-Saharan Africa, where diagnostic laboratories are not commonly available.The "Drivers of Resistance in Uganda and Malawi" or DRUM Consortium will address how human behaviour and antibacterial usage in the home, around animals and in the wider environment in urban and rural areas of Uganda and Malawi contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The consortium is especially interested in the common bacteria E. coli and K. pneumoniae. E. coli is an example of a bacteria that often causes infections in the community, but may also spread around hospitals, whereas K. pneumoniae is a key cause of hospital acquired infections, particularly amongst vulnerable groups such as premature babies. We have chosen to study these bacteria together as they are from the same family and are able to share traits that make them resistant to antibiotics. The DRUM consortium plans to investigate which aspects of behaviour are most important in spreading antibiotic resistance by surveying human behaviour in relation to antibiotics, water, sanitation and hygiene and by investigating bacterial behaviour in response to these stimuli. We plan to use cutting edge mathematical techniques to "model" which behaviours are most important and then use this information to work with policy experts in Uganda and Malawi to design potential interventions to prevent them from spreading further.