Strengthening antimicrobial resistance diagnostics in National Reference Laboratories across One Health in South and Southeast Asia: impact of external quality assessment and targeted follow-up.

Objectives: The intent of this study was to evaluate and improve microbiology laboratory diagnostic capacity in selected National AMR Reference laboratories from South and Southeast Asia for AMR testing utilizing EQA and targeted follow-up support.

Methods: A baseline assessment was conducted to evaluate quality management system (QMS) practices for laboratories participating in the Strengthening External Quality Assessment in Asia (EQASIA-EQA) programme for the first time. Following each EQA iteration, laboratory assessments were conducted, and underperforming laboratories received online consultations to identify root causes of deviations and implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

Coastal residency and its association with diagnosed hypertension based on findings from a cross-sectional study in rural Bangladesh.

The high prevalence of hypertension in coastal regions poses a significant public health challenge due to factors such as high salt intake, air pollution, poor diets, limited healthcare access, and increased stress levels. However, disparities in diagnosed hypertension between coastal and non-coastal areas in Bangladesh remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate and address the prevalence of diagnosed hypertension among adults in both regions.

QAAPT: an interoperable web-based open-source tool for antimicrobial resistance data analysis and visualisation.

The analysis and visualisation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance data is a crucial challenge, especially in high-burden, low-middle-income countries. We describe the design, development, integration, and implementation of the Quick Analysis of Antimicrobial Patterns and Trends (QAAPT) tool for AMR data analysis and visualisation. The QAAPT tool was created by the Capturing Data on Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns and Trends in Use in Regions of Asia project, led by the International Vaccine Institute (IVI).

Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Methods in Bangladesh: Present and Way Forward.

The Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) conducts active, case-based national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in Bangladesh. The Capturing Data on Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns and Trends in Use in Regions of Asia (CAPTURA) project accessed aggregated retrospective data from non-IEDCR study sites and 9 IEDCR sites to understand the pattern and extent of AMR and to use analyzed data to guide ongoing and future national AMR surveillance in both public and private laboratories. Record-keeping practices, data completeness, quality control, and antimicrobial susceptibility test practices were investigated in all laboratories participating in case-based IEDCR surveillance and laboratory-based CAPTURA sites.

Key Recommendations for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance: Takeaways From the CAPTURA Project.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global public health challenge associated with 4.95 million deaths in 2019 and an estimated 10 million deaths per year by 2050 in the absence of coordinated action. A robust AMR surveillance system is therefore required to avert such a scenario.

Recording and Reporting of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Priority Variables and Its Implication on Expanding Surveillance Sites in Nepal: A CAPTURA Experience.

Data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) from sites not participating in the National AMR surveillance network, conducted by National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), remain largely unknown in Nepal. The "Capturing Data on Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns and Trends in Use in Regions of Asia" (CAPTURA) assessed AMR data from previously untapped data sources in Nepal. A retrospective cross-sectional data review was carried out for the AMR data recorded between January 2017 and December 2019 to analyze AMR data from 26 hospital-based laboratories and 2 diagnostic laboratories in Nepal.

Collecting Multi-country Retrospective Antimicrobial Consumption and Use Data: Challenges and Experience.

Excessive or inappropriate antimicrobial use contributes to antimicrobial resistance, emphasizing the need to monitor and document the types and quantities of antibiotics used. Thus, data on antimicrobial consumption (AMC) and antimicrobial usage (AMU) are key in informing and promoting judicious use. Our study, conducted during 2019-2023, as part of the CAPTURA project, aimed to understand the state of data availability and quality for AMC and AMU monitoring in Asia.

Utility and Evaluation of Applied Project Management Processes Within a Large Multicountry Health Systems Development Project Conducted During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic.

The increasing trends in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continue to pose a significant threat to human health, with grave consequences in low- and middle-income countries. In collaboration with local governments and microbiology laboratories in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, the Capturing Data on Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns and Trends in Use in Regions of Asia (CAPTURA) project worked to identify gaps and expand the volume of existing AMR data to inform decision-makers on how to best strengthen their national AMR surveillance capacity. This article describes overall project management processes and the strategies implemented to address the disruptive impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the project activities across diverse contexts in different countries.

Methodological Approach to Identify and Expand the Volume of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Data in the Human Health Sector in Low- and Middle-Income Countries in Asia: Implications for Local and Regional AMR Surveillance Systems Strengthening.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a multifaceted global health problem disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Capturing data on Antimicrobial resistance Patterns and Trends in Use in Regions of Asia (CAPTURA) project was tasked to expand the volume of AMR and antimicrobial use data in Asia. The CAPTURA project used 2 data-collection streams: facility data and project metadata.

Effective Stakeholder Engagement for Collation, Analysis and Expansion of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Data: A CAPTURA Experience.

Background: An effective implementation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance projects requires sustainable and multidisciplinary engagement with stakeholders from various backgrounds, interests and aims. The "Capturing Data on Antimicrobial resistance Patterns and Trends in Use in Regions of Asia" (CAPTURA) project, funded by the Fleming Fund, initially targeted 12 countries in South Asia (SA) and Southeast Asia (SEA) to "expand the volume of historical and current data on AMR and antimicrobial usage" and support local agencies through capacity building activities.

Methods: In this article, we focus on early stakeholder engagement activities and present overall statistics on AMR data collated from 72 laboratories across seven countries.