Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacterial Pathogens - Asia

In collaboration with the Faculty of Tropical Medicine (FTM) and the Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (MORU), Mahidol University, Thailand, we are pleased to announce the 2023 Global Training course in Antimicrobial Resistance of Bacterial Pathogens.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global public health emergency, and threatens the safe delivery of modern medical care. A recent study estimated that there were 4.95 million deaths associated with AMR bacterial infections in 2019. Global projections of the negative impact of AMR predict the loss of nearly 10 million lives per year, and a cumulative loss of global production up to 100 trillion US dollars by 2050. AMR requires immediate, concerted, international, collaborative action to monitor its prevalence and spread throughout the world. The importance of this has been recognised both by the United Nations, and by the World Health Organisation; the latter has published a list of priority pathogens and a global strategy for AMR surveillance.

The challenges of controlling AMR in low- and middle-income countries may be considerable for a number of reasons. Firstly, antibiotics may be available for human and animal use without prescription, resulting in overuse or misuse. Secondly, accurate data on antimicrobial prescription or consumption may not be readily available. Thirdly, there may be limited knowledge about appropriate use of antibiotics and a lack of antimicrobial policies or stewardship programmes. Finally, there may be limitations in healthcare facilities and laboratory capacity for the detection and management of AMR.

The aim of this course is to address some of these challenges by improving the knowledge and skills of individuals interested in antimicrobial resistance in bacterial pathogens in Asia. It will provide a basic introduction to AMR, and practical laboratory training in the laboratory aspects of AMR detection (phenotypic and molecular testing) in bacteria. It will also provide theoretical training on the evolution and spread of AMR and explore the use of whole-genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis and methods for AMR surveillance and control. The content will be globally relevant but tailored to an Asian setting, and therefore potentially transferable to other LMICs. It will result in training and capacity building of the participants who will be able to transfer their knowledge and skills within their home own institutions and countries. The course will provide an opportunity for participants to network and potentially build a regional AMR network to support longer-term partnerships and collaborations.

Target audience

This week-long course is free to attend and open to applicants based in Asia who are actively engaged in, or soon to commence related research or work. This may include diagnostic stewardship, antimicrobial stewardship,infection prevention and control, or generate policies related to AMR in bacteria. Applicants should be PhD students, clinical trainees or specialists in medical microbiology or bioinformatics, postdoctoral scientists, senior technicians, or research assistants with a Master’s degree.

Programme

The course will be made up of lectures and laboratory and computational practicals. Participants will learn international standard methods for the detection of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. Participants will also complete computational practicals covering the investigation, tracking and understanding AMR in bacteria.

Topics will include:

• Epidemiology of AMR pathogens and national surveillance programmes
• Clinical importance of AMR
• Causes and biological mechanisms of resistance in Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods e.g. disc testing, automated systems, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), breakpoints and reporting, QC/QA
• Antibiotic policies and stewardship
• Tackling AMR using a One Health Approach
• Whole genome sequencing (WGS)
• Web-based and command line tools for pathogen genomics analysis
• Genomic surveillance of AMR

Learning outcomes

After attending this course, participants will be able to

• Carry out standard laboratory methods for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (e.g. disk testing and MIC determination)
• Describe the principles and practice of quality assurance and control in AMR surveillance techniques, antimicrobial susceptibility testing and reporting.
• Discuss the range of control strategies for AMR in human and veterinary medicine (e.g. antimicrobial stewardship, infection control and policies).
• Use appropriate software tools to analyse WGS data for  assembly of bacterial genomes, detect resistant variants and conduct phylogenetic analysis.
• Analyse and interpret genomics data for AMR surveillance.

Beth Blane
University of Cambridge, UK

Claire Chewapreecha
Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Unit, Thailand

Direk Limmathurotsakul
Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Unit, Thailand

Ewan Harrison
Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK

Fahad Khokhar
University of Cambridge, UK

Francesc Coll
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK

Janjira Thaipadungpanit
Mahidol University, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Thailand

Liz Batty
Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Unit, Thailand

Narender Kumar 
Wellcome Sanger Institute, UK

Paul Turner
Cambodia-Oxford Medical Research Unit, Cambodia

Premjit Amornchai
Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Unit, Thailand

Organisers - Wellcome Connecting Science

Alice Matimba – Head of Courses & Global Training

Cassandra Soo – Laboratory Manager

Isabela Malta – Global Training Assistant Manager

Karon Chappell – Course and Event Organiser

Organisers - Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University

Boosaree Titapiwatanakun

Jetsumon Prachumsri

Oiko Tacusalme

Pitchapa Vutikes

Suthasinee Sreesai

​​Prerequisites

Applicants should be PhD students, clinical trainees or specialists in medical microbiology or bioinformatics, postdoctoral scientists, senior technicians, or research assistants with a Master’s degree. Applicants should be based in Asia and be actively engaged in, or soon to commence, research, clinical practice, provision of clinical services or policy development related to AMR in bacteria. 

Laboratory experience: The laboratory practical sessions will require basic microbiological and laboratory skills. Ideally participants are required to have some previous exposure to basic microbiological and laboratory techniques. This will be essential for participants to fully benefit from the course.

Computer usage: Participants should have some basic knowledge of computer usage (e.g. use an Internet browser). No formal bioinformatics training is required.

The course will be taught in English.

Cost
The course is subsidised by Wellcome Connecting Science and is free to attend.

Bursaries
A limited number of bursaries are available for each course. These are awarded on merit to cover travel, accommodation and sustenance.

Bursaries can be applied for as part of the course application form. Applicants will be notified of a bursary award along with their place on the course, usually within one month of the application deadline. The decision of the selection committee is final.

Please note that both the applicant and sponsor are required to provide a justification for the bursary as part of the application.

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