Readiness for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in Pakistan; a model for laboratory strengthening.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Limited capacity of laboratories for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) presents a critical diagnostic bottleneck in resource limited countries. This paper aims to identify such gaps and to explore whether laboratory networks could contribute towards improving AST in low resource settings.

Methods

A self-assessment tool to assess antimicrobial susceptibility testing capacity was administered as a pre-workshop activity to participants from 30 microbiology laboratories in 3 cities in Pakistan. Data from public and private laboratories was analyzed and capacity of each scored in percentage terms. Laboratories from Karachi were invited to join a support network. A cohort of five laboratories that consented were provided additional training and updates sessions

SUBMITTER: Saeed DK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5622515 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature