About this Research Topic
Quality-assured diagnostic capabilities remain key in generating data and estimating the disease burden. However, the scarcity of diagnostic microbiological laboratories and appropriate human expertise are major contributing factors resulting in paucity of data in Low- or Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The need for advances in surveillance and monitoring are important to give epidemiological insight, track disease outbreaks more efficiently, and inform therapeutic decisions. Thus, strengthening of diagnostic microbiology capabilities including genomic technologies to improve surveillance and research is warranted for appropriate intervention.
Antimicrobial resistance is now widespread with recent estimates highlighting a huge burden in LMICs impacting patient care and clinical outcomes. Improved diagnostics using a combination of genotypic and phenotypic testing will help understand the dynamics of etiological agents of infections leading to a better patient care and surveillance. This requires quality-assured laboratories which are inadequate in most LMICs, due to lack of priority as a component of healthcare delivery. The WHO recommends boosting surveillance for tracking resistance in LMICs and launched the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance (GLASS) to harmonize Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) surveillance through country data in selected pathogens to design evidence-based response strategies. In addition, the Montreal Declaration on AMR states 'that adequate and secure budgetary support for routine diagnostic bacteriology laboratories need to be provided to ensure that quality-assured testing necessary for AMR containment is done'.
The scope of this Research Topic is to appreciate how implementing quality diagnostics such as integrating microbial genomics in microbiology laboratories has added value to AMR surveillance and outbreak investigation in LMICs. This Research Topic includes the following themes:
- Quality improvement for diagnostics,
- Integration of Whole Genome Sequencing in routine diagnostics,
- How microbiology labs contribute to AMR surveillance and outbreak detection,
- Interventions in reducing the burden of AMR such as implementing antibiograms.
Antimicrobial resistance is now widespread with recent estimates highlighting a huge burden in LMICs impacting patient care and clinical outcomes. Improved diagnostics using a combination of genotypic and phenotypic testing will help understand the dynamics of etiological agents of infections leading to a better patient care and surveillance. This requires quality-assured laboratories which are inadequate in most LMICs, due to lack of priority as a component of healthcare delivery. The WHO recommends boosting surveillance for tracking resistance in LMICs and launched the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance (GLASS) to harmonize Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR) surveillance through country data in selected pathogens to design evidence-based response strategies. In addition, the Montreal Declaration on AMR states 'that adequate and secure budgetary support for routine diagnostic bacteriology laboratories need to be provided to ensure that quality-assured testing necessary for AMR containment is done'.
The scope of this Research Topic is to appreciate how implementing quality diagnostics such as integrating microbial genomics in microbiology laboratories has added value to AMR surveillance and outbreak investigation in LMICs. This Research Topic includes the following themes:
- Quality improvement for diagnostics,
- Integration of Whole Genome Sequencing in routine diagnostics,
- How microbiology labs contribute to AMR surveillance and outbreak detection,
- Interventions in reducing the burden of AMR such as implementing antibiograms.
Keywords: LMICs, diagnostics, AMR surveillance, Whole Genome Sequecing
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