Page 43 - SAMRC Annual Report 2024-2025

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS UNDER THIS PROGRAMME

Antimicrobial Resistance and

Global Health Research Unit

Unit director:
Prof. Pascal Obong Bessong
Pascal.Bessong@univen.ac.za

Advancing Research Priorities:
Strategic Objectives and Impact
The top priority of the Antimicrobial Resistance
and Global Health Research Unit is to co-produce
evidence with communities for application in
antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stewardship protocols.
To this end, we are conducting a community-based,
longitudinal, observational, birth cohort stud,
with surveillance for illness, treatment, and dietary
histories; socio-economic status; stool microbiology
and bacterial genomics and hydrometeorological
variables over 24 months, to identify determinants
of acquisition and diversity of enteric antibiotic
resistance profiles, with the investigation ongoing.
Through this approach, we expect to identify factors
impacting the acquisition and transmission of enteric
bacteria antibiotic resistance at the community level.
In addition, the evidence obtained will be used to
co-develop educational materials for community
AMR stewardship.

Key Milestones and Achievements

We organised a symposium on the theme
"Antimicrobial resistance and the community",
which took place from the 26-27 September 2024.
Eighty delegates from academia, government
departments, and civil organisations participated (74 The Research Unit organised a working session with
the traditional and civic leaderships of the study
in person and 6 virtual), representing 17 institutions community in Dzimauli, Venda, to begin a process
from Brazil, Cameroon, South Africa, Uganda, of determining approaches, that are acceptable
and the United States of America). Nineteen oral and preferred by the community, for data sharing
presentations were delivered, with Keynote speakers about antimicrobial resistance.
including: Professor Amy Mathers (University of

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