Data Challenge: An outcome study of antimicrobial resistance in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) amongst hospitalised patients: Analysis of the SPIDAAR dataset

This research project will be based on the Surveillance Partnership to Improve Data for Action on Antimicrobial Resistance (SPIDAAR), which was implemented across Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda. The primary objective of this low-intervention study was to estimate the rates of resistance in Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) amongst hospitalised patients. Additional objectives included the assessment of treatment outcomes, mortality rates, and hospital length of stay among hospitalized patients with Nosocomial Infections (NI) at the end of therapy and at hospital discharge. This dataset was preferred given the research team's familiarity with the study context, which is burdened by antimicrobial resistance and HAIs. The research team is also academically well-versed with statistical assessment and policy implications of the outcomes of interest in this study.
This research project will compare antimicrobial resistance patterns among patients hospitalized with nosocomial infections across the four participating countries. A multicenter pooled analysis will be conducted to identify individual-level factors associated with antimicrobial resistance and to estimate the impact of antimicrobial resistance on key clinical outcomes, including treatment success, mortality, and length of hospital stay. Furthermore, the study will examine antibiotic therapies associated with poor clinical outcomes.
By highlighting treatment outcomes at the end of therapy and at hospital discharge, the project will provide insights regarding the success and failure rates of the current antibiotic regimens. These findings will support clinicians in optimizing treatment decisions and quality of care, ultimately improving patient outcomes. The study findings will also support antimicrobial stewardship programs through the provision of evidence-based, context-specific solutions that can improve patient outcomes. By linking antimicrobial resistance data with clinical outcomes, the study will inform national and regional public health strategies, including the development and improvement of treatment guidelines, which can strengthen responses to HAIs in low and middle-income countries.