Antibiotic Drug use, Monitoring and Evaluation of Resistance in Ghana (ADMER) – a research capacity building project

project summary

Antibiotic resistance is increasing world-wide with serious consequences for complications and mortality of hitherto treatable infections, and the main reason is misuse of antibiotics. The aim of this project is to apply prudent antibiotic use principles to Ghana. In a collaborative effort Ghanaian and Danish researchers will: 1) enhance the general knowledge on diagnostic microbiology, susceptibility testing, dosing of antibiotics, monitoring antibiotic resistance and antibiotic use, and qualify the antibiotics used via educational courses (WP1); 2) enhance the knowledge of antibiotic consumption both in and outside hospitals in order to improve rational use and availability of antibiotics (WP2); 3) monitor and qualify the antibiotics marketed and consumed by controlling their content and potency (WP3); 4) improve clinical microbiology services by enhancing the quality of existing laboratories and by further expanding the availability of microbiological diagnosis and susceptibility testing to primary care (WP 4); 5) Disseminate knowledge to all end-users and establish a national network on antibiotic use and resistance (WP5). A total of 8 PhD and 12 MSc thesis students will be educated and more than 6 post-doctoral research grants provided. All will be Ghanaian nationals. The project will provide a platform for continued research on antibiotic use and resistance. It will build the capacity and generate the research-based evidence needed to apply prudent antibiotic use.