PACIFIC ONE HEALTH & AMR SYMPOSIUM 2023
ABSTRACTS
SESSION 9.2: STRENGTHENING OF ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR) SURVEILLANCE THROUGH LABORATORY ANTIBIOGRAMS a
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Toatu Tebuka , Saketa Salanieta , Uluiviti Vasiti , Naivalu Taina , Babiau Raikabakaba Asaeli , Baleivanualala e
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Sakiusa , Buadromo Eka , Leong Margaret , Cole Russell , Varea Lalomilo
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Pacific Community (SPC), Public Health Division, Narere, Suva, Fiji Islands. Pacific Islands Health Officers Association (PIHOA), Hawaii, Honolulu, USA. c Department of Pathology and Medical Laboratory Science, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji Islands. d World Health Organization (WHO), South Pacific, Suva, Fiji Islands. e Otago University, New Zealand. f Pacific Pathology Training Centre, Wellington, New Zealand. b
Introduction: AMR surveillance and control is a challenge in most PICTs partly due to the following reasons weak AMR surveillance, lack of collaboration between microbiology and pharmacy in developing drug formulary on specific organisms, lack of antibiogram database, ineffective national Drug and Therapeutics Committee and weak Infection Prevention Control (IPC) both in hospital and community settings. SPC and its partners (FNU, PIHOA, PPTC & WHO) developed a training curriculum to assist Labs in the region in implementing quality Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) that will contribute to the development of a quality antibiogram to guide informed decisions. Objective: The objective of this approach is to strengthen quality implementation of quality microbiology processes to produce an accurate and reliable antibiogram that will guide informed decisions and actions to tackle AMR issues in the region. Method: From 2019 to 2022 a standardise training curriculum focusing on strengthening quality microbiology diagnostic procedures to produce quality AST was rolled out to few selected Pacific countries. In 2023 a developed antibiogram database was rolled out to countries which participated in the training to produce an accurate and reliable antibiogram on the susceptibility of antibiotics used to treat infection. The generated information on the antibiogram would be used to guide informed decisions to address AMR. Results:
PROGRAM GUIDE
Conclusion: Compilation and reporting of an antibiogram data to guide informed decision is a challenge in most laboratories in PICTs. Majority of countries still rely heavily on paper-based system. The developed excel user-friendly antibiogram database has been rolled out to three (3) piloted site countries and already beneficial outcomes are noted in these countries. The trend in sensitivity pattern over time can now be made quickly using the simple functionality of the tool.
SPEAKER PROFILE: Mr Tebuka Toata Mr Tebuka Toatu is from Kiribati and has been working with The Pacific Community (SPC) for the past twelve years. Prior to joining SPC, he had been a Director of Laboratory Services for over ten years at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services in Kiribati. Mr Toatu is a Medical Laboratory Scientist by profession and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Science from RMIT University in Melbourne with majors in Advance Cytopathology and Haematology. In 2008, he completed his post graduate studies doing a Master of Science in Medicine from the University of Sydney. Currently, Mr Toatu is working with the Pacific Community at SPC Public Health Division as a Pacific Public Health Surveillance LabNet Coordinator providing laboratory strengthening activities in PICTs but focusing more on strengthening AMR surveillance and control through microbiology capacity training in the region.
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