Vaccination in rural kenya

Investigating trends in antibiotic consumption in 67 countries from 2016 to 2023

OHT researchers estimate that antibiotic consumption in 67 countries, based on pharmaceutical sales data, increased 10.6 percent from 13.7 to 15.2 defined daily doses (DDDs) per 1,000 inhabitants per day between 2016 and 2023. The mean antibiotic consumption rate increased by 5.5 percent (19.5 DDDs per 1,000 inhabitants per day to 20.5), with the most pronounced increases seen in upper-middle- and lower-middle-income countries. The COVID-19 pandemic on the other hand, significantly reduced antibiotic consumption across all income groups, particularly in high-income countries, which also experienced a “delayed rebound” in antibiotic consumption rates from 2021 to 2023. [PNAS]

Tertiary education quality has no impact on IT job callbacks in India.

A correspondence experiment by OHT researcher Dr. Deepshikha Batheja and colleagues, found that IT job callback rates did not differ between those graduating from a mid-tier engineering college ranked in the top 300 in India and those graduating from an unranked engineering college outside of the top 1,000. Similarly, post-tertiary certification test scores played no role in callback rates. Women had a slightly greater chance of receiving a job callback than men, although there were substantial variations by region. These findings underscore the importance of understanding the signals that employers at small and medium-sized IT firms prioritize in screening and hiring candidates. [Center for Effective Global Action]

Reducing cancer patients’ exposure to AMR through a commitment to Lancet targets

OHT‘s Isabella Impalli and Dr. Joseph Lewnard wrote a blog post highlighting the work of the 2024 Lancet Series on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and the importance of mitigating the AMR burden to protect cancer patients from contracting life-threatening infections. Authors of the Lancet Series recommended that existing interventions could help countries achieve the target of a 10 percent reduction in global AMR mortality by 2030. After the unanimous adoption of a political declaration incorporating part of the Lancet Series’ targets at the UN High-Level Meeting on AMR in September, policymakers, clinicians, and the general public must make responsible decisions to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics and improve health outcomes for cancer patients. [UICC] 

A rundown of the 2024 Meeting of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Partnership in Kenya

The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and the One Health Trust (OHT) hosted a two-day workshop in Nairobi October 30-31, 2024, focused on the role of vaccines in mitigating antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The workshop brought together experts from healthcare, research, and government to discuss strategies for integrating vaccines into national AMR plans. Key discussions included vaccine-driven AMR reduction, cost implications, and challenges such as vaccine hesitancy. Recommendations included improving public trust in vaccines, expanding adult vaccination programs, enhancing data collection, and addressing gaps in vaccine accessibility, particularly among hard-to-reach populations. [One Health Trust] 

New United Nations declaration to address the neglected AMR pandemic

OHT’s Dr. Samantha Serrano wrote a piece for World AMR Awareness Week on the importance of the new United Nations (UN) resolution passed on AMR in September 2024. The first UN resolution on AMR passed in 2016 led to the development of 169 national action plans (NAPs). Today, however, only 10 percent of these plans are funded. A 2024 Lancet Series reports that AMR is worsening, with antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections causing 1.27 million deaths in 2019. Despite this, funding for AMR innovation remains drastically low. The new 2024 UN declaration promised to secure $100 million for funding NAPs on AMR by 2030 and sets the goal of reducing antibiotic resistance-related deaths by 10 percent. However, it lacks clear targets for controlling antibiotic misuse and commitments for funding of infection prevention and improved antibiotic access, particularly for low-resource settings. [Global Cause] 

Mitigating the burden of pneumonia and sepsis in LMICs by expanding antibiotic access

AMR-associated morbidity and mortality are steadily rising, and a lack of access to effective antibiotics is driving up the burden of pneumonia and sepsis, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A collaborative initiative of the World Health Organization and the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, SECURE, aims to improve access to generic and newly approved antibiotics in LMICs through regional regulations and pooled procurement, along with support for formulary optimization and antibiotic stewardship, which could help address the global AMR crisis and reduce the burdens of pneumonia and sepsis in LMICs. [The Lancet Global Health] 

Regulatory efforts to reduce rabies risk in Vietnam

Loosely regulated dog meat trade and dog meat eating practices in Vietnam increase the risk of rabies transmission from dogs to humans. Existing One Health rabies prevention and control initiatives in Vietnam, including a national control program, have been criticized as insufficient, particularly in rural areas where there is a need for wider coverage policies. Hanoi recently announced an initiative to restrict the dog meat trade, exemplifying the capital’s commitment to shift norms around dog meat consumption and eliminate the threat of rabies. [IJID Regions]

An integrated approach to address contaminants of emerging concern in reused wastewater

A literature review on existing models commonly used to assess the impacts of reclaimed wastewater reuse in agriculturesuch as the introduction of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) proposed a simplified, integrated approach that addresses human health risks, environmental risks, and the risk of antibiotic resistance development due to the presence of CECs in reclaimed wastewater for indirect reuse. This approach could enable regulators and policymakers to identify high-priority pharmaceutical compounds to better protect humans and the environment. [Journal of Environmental Management] 

China’s One Health approach to dengue control

A systematic review revealed that collaborative, multisectoral efforts have been crucial to China’s dengue control and prevention approach. China’s One Health-centered dengue control strategies incorporate environmental and ecological interventions, which have resulted in reduced mosquito breeding sites and improved sanitation. Climate change, migration, and urbanization will continue to drive the rising incidence of dengue in China, necessitating innovative mosquito monitoring and further data sharing with neighboring countries. [Science in One Health]

Integrated surveillance efforts are needed to reduce fungal antimicrobial resistance.

Fungal antimicrobial resistance (fAMR), largely driven by the widespread use of azole fungicides in agriculture, is a growing threat to human and animal health and food security. While novel antifungals are in clinical development, there is rising concern that these agents are also facing resistance. Mitigating fAMR and preserving the effectiveness of novel antifungals requires a One Health approach, including integrated fAMR surveillance, assessments of wastewater contributions to spreading fAMR, and identifying social and economic drivers of fAMR. [npj antimicrobials and resistance] 

Direct and indirect effects of climate change on foodborne pathogen transmission

A literature review found that climate events (such as rainfall, floods, droughts, and hurricanes) could increase the risk of global outbreaks of foodborne pathogens such as Vibrio spp., Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. Climate change can have direct impacts on the spread of foodborne pathogens through rising ambient temperatures, but it can also indirectly alter transmission by forcibly changing agricultural practices to adapt to water-scarce conditions and disrupting sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. [One Health] 

 

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