Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Malta: Integrating Whole Genome Sequencing for the molecular characterisation of clinically isolated carbapenem / colistin resistance Enterobacteriaceace: AMR-MT-WGS

Programme(s): EU4Health Programme (EU4H)

Topic(s): EU4H-2022-DGA-MS-IBA-01-02

Type of action: EU4H Project Grants

Project ID: 101112890

Objective:

The increase in prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is considered as a major threat to public health globally. The majority of AMR surveillance is currently being undertaken by the use, of common available microbiology methods and phenotypic drug susceptibility testing. The addition of molecular methods such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), can provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of resistance and the relatedness of strains. Gram-negative bacteria display the broadest range of resistance, of these carbapenem-resistance Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are becoming a leading public health concern. Moreover, due to the lack of accessible treatment, some CRE isolates were found to carry mobile colistin-resistant genes (mcr). In this project WGS will be implemented / integrated within the established AMR surveillance in Malta, to molecular characterize carbapenem / colistin resistant Enterobacteriaceae.