Global One Health News

GOHi works to reduce antibiotic resistance worldwide

A powerful group of antibiotics called “carbapenems” are often relied on for infections where treatment with other antibiotics has failed, according to the Journal of Hospital Infection. Experts from the Global One Health initiative (GOHi), in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), are working to train medical professionals in Ethiopia to detect organisms that resist these antibiotics, helping reduce the future incidence of antibiotic resistance in patients. In a recent training for microbiologists from Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital and Zewditu Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa, trainees learned specialized testing methods.

GOHi launches an active surveillance program on AMR

Running a surveillance program is essential in a nation like Ethiopia, whose burden of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO) is still being determined and where facility-specific resistance profiles still need to be improved. To combat the spread of these organisms, GOHi has been working with two facilities in Addis Ababa to passively monitor routine clinical specimens for selected pathogens of global health importance, specifically carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales. In addition to this ongoing passive monitoring project, GOHi is now fighting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by launching active surveillance for the MDROs of focus.

GOHi presents antimicrobial resistance research at Ethiopian Ministry of Health national summit

In March, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health held the eighth National Healthcare Innovation and Quality Summit in Addis Ababa at the headquarters of the Africa Union. The ministry invited GOHi to present its progress on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded antimicrobial resistance (AMR) project. Eyasu Tigabu Seyoum and Samuel Muluye Welelaw represented GOHi and presented a poster highlighting key achievements in infection prevention and AMR laboratory detection enhancement.

Accolade from EPHI for strengthening national pathogen genomics capacity

The Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) recently recognized GOHi for its support in strengthening genomic sequencing work and ongoing capacity in the African nation. Genomic sequencing is used to find changes in areas of the genome, helping scientists understand, diagnose and treat diseases. With U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding, GOHi implemented a project to strengthen the Genome Sequence and Bioinformatics core facility in Ethiopia.

Partnership with Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital helps improve infant and family health

A partnership between GOHi and Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital in Ethiopia is increasing the hospital’s testing, tracking and capacity to improve vaccine safety and reduce dangerous antimicrobial resistance for adults, children and babies. Two key initiatives focused on adverse events following immunization reporting and antimicrobial resistance prevention are contributing to better patient outcomes. By reporting adverse events following immunization, medical staff can promptly address potential issues and enhance vaccine safety. Meanwhile, the antimicrobial resistance project focuses on prevention, early detection and response for multidrug-resistant pathogens that can cause hospital-acquired infections.

GOHi study aims to understand vaccine adherence in Ethiopia

The World Health Organization estimates that 1 in 5 African children do not receive all the necessary and basic vaccines. As a result, more than 30 million children under five still suffer from vaccine-preventable diseases every year in Africa. To better understand the causes of this vaccine gap, GOHi launched a study to learn more about Missed Opportunities for Vaccination in Ethiopia’s Oromia region. The study will identify children under two in urban, rural and pastoralist healthcare facilities who were eligible to receive at least one vaccine but didn’t, explore the major reasons for these missed opportunities and determine where and how often they occur.

The results of the study will help the Ethiopian Federal Ministry of Health, Oromia Regional Health Bureau and other international agencies revise policies, programs, strategies and plans to improve the country’s immunization program. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will provide financial and technical support.

Wang co-authors study on multidrug-resistant infections

Shu-Hua Wang, GOHi director of research and implementation, recently co-authored a study published in the International Society for Infectious Diseases journal, “IJID Regions,” titled “Epidemiology and prevention of hospital-acquired carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales infection in hospitalized patients, Northeast Ethiopia.”

This study provides insight on the burden and risk factors associated with hospital-acquired Carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CP-CRE) and other multidrug-resistant infections in northern Ethiopia, recommending strengthened laboratory capacity and infection prevention and control measures. The study found that 14.6% of bacterial infections were CP-CRE infections, which were also multi-drug resistant. Similar results have been found elsewhere in Ethiopia, raising concerning implications. The prevalence of CRE is increasing globally and the World Health Organization identifies antimicrobial resistance as one of the top threats to global health.

External news

World Organization for Animal Health to promote One Health principles on the global stage

Four international agencies referred to as the Quadripartite Secretariat have been working together for more than a decade to promote a One Health philosophy, tackling the interconnected challenges of promoting human, animal, plant and ecosystem health. The members recently appointed their newest chair for the coming year.

During a recent meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, the Quadripartite Secretariate appointed one of their members, The World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), to lead the charge in ensuring that One Health principles play a role in global political decision making. One critical agenda for WOAH’s leadership is a robust commitment to combatting rabies and other priority zoonotic animal diseases through a holistic approach. Other high-level strategic priorities include implementing the One Health Joint Plan of Actions at a national level, emphasizing the role of the animal sector in safeguarding health and more.