Working Title: "Investigating the epidemiological determinants & transmission pathway of AMR focusing on MRSA among urban livestock keepers’ community in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India"

Research Countries: India

Research Themes: Health Governance

Abstract:

Globally around 700,000 annual deaths are attributable to infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens. Misuse or over usage of antibiotics not only in human but also in animal and agriculture is the major contributor for Anti-Microbial Resistance (AMR). The complexity of AMR increased as antibiotics used in human and animal largely have similar molecules that could drive the transmission of resistance pathogens between animals and humans, either directly or via the environment. One Health approach is used by developed nations to slow down the rates of AMR and to address its complexity. However, a country like India having the major burden of emerging and reemerging diseases requiring enough evidence from One Health perspective to fight against AMR. Hence, the study aims to investigate the epidemiological determinants and transmission pathway of AMR focusing on MRSA among urban livestock keeper’s community by using One Health approach in Ahmedabad city of India. 

The study will use longitudinal study design with microbiological surveillance. Livestock keepers and non-livestock keepers living in the same community will be recruited from two different areas (one urban and one peri-urban) of Ahmedabad municipal areas. Data will be collected in three phases on human health, animal health and environmental health from livestock keepers and non-livestock keepers, their animals and surrounded indoor environments of households. For microbiological surveillance nasal swabs, milk samples and surface samples will be collected and tested for MRSA. Further data will be analyzed using different statistical tools and models. The expected outcome of the study is mainly to provide evidence on MRSA prevalence among human-animal-environment and the relative effect of MRSA among animal and environment on Human.

Supervisor(s):

Prof. Dr. Thomas Kistemann (IHPH)

Prof. Dr. Mariele Evers (GIUB)