June 16, 2025
The GARP-Uganda policy brief explores the role of vaccines in mitigating AMR.
The newly published Global Antibiotic Resistance Partnership (GARP)-Uganda Policy Brief, titled “The Role of Vaccines in Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance in Uganda,” provides policymakers with evidence and concrete steps and interventions that leverage vaccines in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Uganda. GARP – an initiative led by the One Health Trust and partner institutions in Africa and Asia – aims to support the evidence-to-policy transition, for vaccine use to fight infectious disease and slow AMR in country-specific contexts. [One Health Trust]
Challenges in quantifying global trends in inappropriate antibiotic use
OHT researchers and colleagues co-authored a scoping review, which found that the prevalence of inappropriate antibiotic use is, on average, six percent higher in low- and middle-income countries than in high-income countries. However, this disparity disappeared after adjusting for physicians per capita, which serves as a proxy indicator for healthcare access. The estimated proportions of inappropriate antibiotic use globally based on clinical audits, patient interviews, and a lack of indication were 29.5 percent, 36.5 percent, and 30.8 percent, respectively, suggesting substantial heterogeneity across sampling techniques and underscoring the need for international guidelines to quantify inappropriate antibiotic use. [BMJ Public Health]
Challenges and opportunities for AI to fight AMR in geriatric care
Artificial intelligence (AI) could play an important role in combating AMR in geriatric populations, which are highly vulnerable to drug-resistant infections and the associated healthcare costs. AI can enable rapid, large-scale analysis of hospital pathogen surveillance data, reduce antibiotic prescribing errors (which are common among geriatric patients with complex medical histories), and enhance medication adherence among elderly patients. However, the use of AI in healthcare raises ethical concerns regarding age-related biases due to underrepresentation in datasets used to train AI models and may create a financial barrier given the high costs associated with its implementation. [Digital Health]
Identifying resistance markers in floor soil and cow dung in Bangladesh
In rural Bangladesh, as in many low- and middle-income settings, the use of inadequate flooring materials and cohabitation with animals can lead to exposure to fecal contamination. A study of ten households in rural Sirajganj District, Bangladesh, revealed that all samples of floor soil and cow dung (commonly used as a flooring sealant) contained antibiotic resistance genes that conferred resistance to sulfonamides, rifamycin, aminoglycosides, and tetracycline. A total of 182 potential pathogenic microbes were identified in the soil and cow dung samples, with the most commonly detected species being Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. [Environmental Microbiology]
Moderate risk of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in exposed workers in Nigeria
A One Health joint risk assessment identified three key transmission routes of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Nigeria: human contact with infected livestock in veterinary clinics or during farming or slaughtering, exposure to infected animals and birds, and exposure to ticks. Furthermore, the seroprevalence of CCHF in humans and cattle was 6.1 and 30.2 percent, respectively. Although CCHF has not yet become endemic, the study found a moderate likelihood of infection among veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers, herders, wildlife rangers, and wildlife park tourists, underscoring the need for infection prevention and control measures in high-risk workplaces in Nigeria. [International Health]
Similarities in avian influenza virus across migratory bird guano and U.S. dairy cattle
A surveillance study assessing samples of bird guano collected along avian migration routes across 10 countries in the Global South found that H5N1 was the most frequently detected subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV), with the highest rates identified in the Maldives and Sri Lanka. Notably, these subtypes exhibited a close phylogenetic relationship with the sequences of AIV that are currently circulating in dairy cattle in the United States. The virus’s ongoing circulation and potential adaptation in wild birds across tropical and subtropical zones raise concerns about risks to biodiversity and public health along migratory pathways. [Nature Communications]
The impact of compounding environmental drivers on antibiotic resistance
Under the influence of climate change, environmental contaminants such as microplastics and chemical co-pollutants are enhancing the global spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The proliferation of ARGs – further driven by heavy metals, organic pollutants, and antibiotics – contributes to complex selection pressures that drive antibiotic resistance in various ecosystems. Further investigation into the formation of biofilms, which enhance bacterial colonization and pollutant interaction, as well as their influence on ARG transfer, will help researchers understand the persistence and impact of biofilms under such environmental stressors and prioritize site-specific, cost-effective, and scalable solutions. [Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances]
Potential genetic markers to determine highly pathogenic avian influenza susceptibility in wild birds
A gene expression analysis conducted across various bird species found that two antiviral genes, OAS and IFIT5, were frequently upregulated in species resistant to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus after infection with HPAI. The expression of OAS and IFIT5 genes increased 12 hours post-infection in resistant species (rock pigeon, hooded crane, white-necked crane, and Japanese crane) compared to susceptible species (chicken, mountain hawk-eagle, northern goshawk, peregrine falcon, and golden eagle) identified in a previous study. These results suggest that the OAS and IFIT5 genes could serve as genetic markers for HPAI virus susceptibility, directing attention to the variability in immune responses to HPAI across wild bird species. [Nature Scientific Reports]
Factors associated with vaccination dropout among children in Ethiopia
A systematic review and meta-analysis conducted in Ethiopia revealed that the pooled magnitude of vaccination dropout from Bacillus Calmette-Guerin to measles among children aged 12 to 23 months was 17 percent, a value that exceeds the World Health Organization recommendation of less than 10 percent. Researchers found that the children of mothers who travel more than 30 minutes to reach health facilities were nearly 2.5 times more likely to experience vaccination dropout compared to those with mothers who have a shorter commute to the nearest health facility. Not attending antenatal care visits, postponing immunization schedules, and delivering at home were also found to be significant determinants of vaccination dropout. [BMC Pediatrics]
Image from Canva
