On the track of molecular epidemiology of Multidrug Resistant Gram Negative Bacteria across diverse settings, according to the different geographical location and climatic conditions; Switzerland and Sub-Saharan Africa

Description:

The present project explores (i) the prevalence of multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria harbouring carbapenemases in the clinical and communal wastewaters and their dissemination into the aquatic ecosystems in developing and developed nations, (ii) to test and monitor antibiotic resistance in irrigation water and raw vegetables, (iii) to characterize their phenotypic and genotypic resistant patterns to antibiotics routinely used in prophylaxis, and (iv) developing a research programme in which university partnerships cooperate on specific topics such as the development of standardized methods to test and monitor heavy metals in receiving systems, POPs, and antibiotic and microplastics in the environmental samples.

We envisage answering the questions about how human exposure to resistant bacteria in the environment occurs through drinking water, food consumption, and direct contact with the environment, and what impact that exposure has on human health in developing countries under tropical condition.

This proposal will be performed in order to consolidate the ongoing/future collaboration between University of Geneva and Universities of Kinshasa (Congo (DRC)) by training academic researchers to strengthen the surveillance system and evidence base and develop responses to prevent and manage antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, we propose an initiative to address antimicrobial resistance in developing country, recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Swiss Confederation (for One Health) as some of today's greatest global health challenges in the world.