Expression of Interest Title: Data Challenge – Global Geographic Patterns and Trends of WHO Priority Pathogens and AWaRe Antibiotic Resistances among Children: An Epidemiological Surveillance Study
Team 9059, led by Yanhong Jessika Hu of Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Australia with Joseph Harwell (The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, USA), Penelope Bryant (Murdoch Children’s Research Institute), Hong Qiu (The Chinese University of Hong Kong)
Summary of Research:
Background and Objectives: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health threat affecting all age groups, but the increasing trend of AMR in infants and children has been relatively overlooked. In 2019, antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections led to 1.2 million deaths worldwide, with children under 5 accounting for 20% of these deaths. Urgent actions are needed to address emerging threats specific to children, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacterales and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, by improving surveillance data. The burden of AMR in children is compounded by limited availability of paediatric-specific antibiotics and formulations. Given the challenges of conducting clinical trials in this population, leveraging surveillance data becomes crucial to understand the distribution and trends of paediatric AMR. Our previous review identified a lack of paediatric data in this context. To address this gap, we will utilize the Vivli platform to achieve the following objectives: Identify global geographic patterns and trends of paediatric WHO priority pathogens using Vivli ATLAS_Antibiotics data. Investigate geographic patterns and trends of paediatric WHO Access, Watch, and Reserve (AWaRe) antibiotic resistances globally using Vivli ATLAS Antibiotics data. Examine changes in antimicrobial susceptibility/resistance profiles among children. Methods and Statistical Analysis: Descriptive and analytical epidemiological techniques will assess the data. Geographic mapping and spatial analysis will visualize the global distribution patterns of paediatric WHO priority pathogens and AWaRe antibiotic resistances. Temporal analysis will identify trends and changes in antimicrobial susceptibility profiles over time. Outcomes: This project will provide critical evidence on the distribution and density of paediatric WHO priority pathogens and AWaRe antibiotic resistances. The findings will serve as an alert, highlighting regions and specific antibiotics that require targeted interventions. Ultimately, this study can lead to significant changes in antibiotic usage for paediatric patients, enabling more effective and tailored treatment strategies for children worldwide.
Requested Datasets:
ATLAS_Antibiotics
Data Contributor: Pfizer Inc.