Combating Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Africa through Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship (ComBac-Africa)

About ComBac-Africa

Antimicrobial resistance is a major global health threat for humans, animals, and the environment, with the highest mortality and morbidity rates observed in sub-Saharan Africa. The number of deaths due to severe infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDR GNB) in the region are steadily increasing. Yet, due to a lack of microbiological diagnostics in the Global South, critical pathogens often go undetected in patients and access to novel antibiotic treatments remains limited.

The ComBac-Africa project aims to address this growing crisis by establishing a needs-adapted diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship programme that provides equitable access to novel, often lifesaving, antibiotics for targeted treatment. In collaboration with partners in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria, the project will improve diagnostics, increase our understanding of bacteria and transmission mechanisms between humans, animals and the environment (One Health), and develop diagnostic-therapeutic algorithms to optimise treatments. The novel approach will be implemented in a clinical trial to assess how it can improve treatment of severe infections due to MDR GNB.

Consortium

ComBac-Africa is coordinated by Prof Sören Becker from Universität des Saarlandes and brings together partners from several African and European countries and institutions, including:

  • Universität des Saarlandes, Germany

  • Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

  • Centre for Malaria and other Tropical Disease Care, Nigeria

  • Instituto Piaget, Portugal

  • Ministerio da Saúde Pública, Guinea-Bissau

  • Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, Nigeria

  • Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, Côte d’Ivoire

  • LINQ management GmbH, Germany

  • GARDP Africa NPC, South Africa

  • GARDP Foundation, Switzerland

  • Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-Institut, Switzerland 

  • Fondation pour un Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Côte d’Ivoire