Setting priorities for patient-centered surveillance of drug-resistant infections

A priority-setting process (PSP) was launched to define priorities for patient-centered antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and research in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A list of uncertainties related to AMR surveillance in human health was generated using an online survey of stakeholders in LMICs, which asked for unanswered questions about diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of antibiotic resistance.

A total of 445 respondents generated 1076 questions that were mapped to a final shortlist of 107 questions. The most common theme was the treatment of drug-resistant infections, followed by diagnosis, then prevention, and requests for local AMR data. The most asked question was a request for local AMR data, revealing the lack of basic information in many LMICs to guide actions to tackle AMR. The steering group recommended three research areas to be prioritized for funding in the next five years: infection prevention and control in LMICs, improved electronic patient records, starting with laboratory information management systems, and sustainable behavior change among doctors and other health care professionals with a focus on diagnostic stewardship.