University professors join leading health professionals to mark World AMR Awareness Week
As World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week concludes, the University’s SHIP Group has highlighted efforts to combat AMR, a critical global health threat.
AMR occurs when microorganisms evolve to resist treatments, making infections harder or impossible to treat, with widespread impacts on health, food production, and the environment. Held annually from 18-24 November, the campaign unites global stakeholders to promote understanding of AMR’s causes and share best practices to prevent drug-resistant infections.
The theme for this year’s World AMR Awareness Week is ‘Educate. Advocate. Act now’, which underscores the urgency of addressing AMR through education, advocacy, and immediate action across various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, and the environment.
Professor Gordon Ramage co-leads the university’s Safeguarding Health through Infection Prevention (SHIP) Group, a multidisciplinary team of researchers, including nurses, microbiologists, and epidemiologists, who are committed to developing evidence-based clinical practice − while working in partnership with the public, patients, clinical staff, service management and commercial partners. Their aim is to safeguard against infection and enhance the quality of patient care and the health and wellbeing of the public.
Professor Ramage said: “We’re helping to fight AMR on multiple fronts by building AMR awareness and prevention. This includes researching biofilms, promoting rigorous hand hygiene practices, and advancing methods to limit the spread of resistant pathogens.
“We also run workshops, seminars, and campaigns to inform healthcare professionals and the public about the threats posed by AMR and prevention measures. Combining scientific research with community engagement allows us to promote AMR awareness on a broader scale.
“AMR is a complex challenge that requires a coordinated approach across research, healthcare, and public awareness. At SHIP, we’re dedicated to advancing this through impactful research and proactive engagement. Together, we can make significant strides in the fight against AMR.”
Professor Ramage, along with Dr Ryan Kean and partners from the University of West of Scotland and the NHS, were recently funded by NHS Assure to investigate the epidemiology and control of the antifungal resistant fungi Candida auris. His work focuses on innovative strategies to combat resistant pathogens on surfaces, crucial for tackling AMR and improving treatment approaches.
Dr Kean has been working on drug repurposing to find improved therapies for the management of bacterial vaginosis. His project, entitled “Teach an old drug new tricks”, is supported by the Academy of Science Springboard.
Dr William Johnston’s work is supported by a grant from the National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) in partnership with Penrhos Bio, focusing on new strategies to advance practical measures against resistant pathogens.
Dr Lucyna Gozdzielewska is a recent recipient of NBIC studentships along with Professor Ramage, Dr Kean and Dr Johnston. Together they are working with NexaBiome to develop new bacteriophage-based therapies for the management and control of complex biofilm infections. This work aims to find natural solutions to combat AMR.
Dr Val Ness is an advocate for educating healthcare professionals about antimicrobial stewardship. Her work has focused on the role of the nurse in Antimicrobial Stewardship and the role of non-medical prescribers in antimicrobial prescribing. Her recent papers are pivotal in strengthening approaches to combat AMR.
Professor Jacqui Reilly has contributed significantly to controlling healthcare infections through evidence-based synthesis of the literature. She is an international leader in Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and through her work has enhanced our understanding of controlling infections in the hospital environment and reducing our reliance on antibiotics. Her work has been essential in tacking AMR.