Establishing an Epidemiological Surveillance Network for Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Veterinary Teaching Hospitals across Brazil

• Grant number: 24/19958-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Ana Cristina Gales
• Grantee: Luciana Sartori
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10599-3 - The Antimicrobial Resistance Institute of São Paulo (The Aries Project), AP.CEPID

Abstract

The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in veterinary settings poses a significant threat to both animal and public health. This project aims to establish a comprehensive surveillance network for monitoring antibiotic-resistant bacteria in university veterinary hospitals. The surveillance network will integrate standardized protocols for data collection, pathogen identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing facilitating the detection of resistant pathogens, particularly in critical care and surgical units. Understanding pathogen prevalence and their susceptibility profiles is crucial for assessing the burden of infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in veterinary settings. This knowledge forms the foundation for implementing antimicrobial stewardship and infection control practices-key strategies in the fight against AMR. To ensure the success of these efforts, personnel will be trained to collect clinical information from animals and submit bacterial isolates to a central laboratory. There, the isolates will undergo bacterial identification confirmation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using reference methodologies to determine their resistance profiles. This project aligns with global AMR mitigation efforts, as outlined by O'Neill (2016), and emphasizes the critical role of surveillance programs in tracking trends in antimicrobial resistance, improving infection management protocols, and responding to outbreaks effectively. By fostering collaboration under the "One Health" approach, this network will contribute to global surveillance efforts and enhance the capacity of veterinary hospitals to tackle hospital-acquired infections. Key outcomes include increased awareness of AMR in veterinary settings, and a robust framework for future implementation of veterinary antimicrobial stewardship and infection control programmes in the veterinary setting to address and mitigate AMR threats.