The growing problem of bacteria resistant to antibiotics (antimicrobial resistance or AMR) is a major threat to global health.
Experts agree about the importance of a One Health approach to reducing inappropriate use of antibiotics in both humans and animals and monitoring trends in antibiotic resistance in humans, animals and the environment.
COHR is actively engaged in research to determine better ways to limit antibiotic use and track the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Our research includes:
The Washington Integrated Surveillance for Antibiotic Resistance (WISAR) database
In conjunction with the Washington One Health working group on antibiotic stewardship, COHR is developing the Washington Integrated Surveillance for Antibiotic Resistance (WISAR) project. The WISAR database contains antibiotic testing results on bacteria isolated from humans and animals across the state. In collaboration with Quest Diagnostics laboratories, COHR is creating and analyzing community-level antibiograms that will be used for improved antibiotic stewardship and tracking of trends in antibiotic resistance. A recent grant from the SeaDoc Society will enable COHR to research the spread of AMR in the Salish Sea ecosystem as well. In this way, the WISAR project is helping to promote the concept of “shared stewardship” efforts across human, animal and environmental sectors.
UW COHR/Quest AMR Research Collaboration
COHR has partnered with the national clinical laboratory Quest Diagnostics in a scientific effort to use clinical antibiotic susceptibility testing data to create precision “antibiograms” for different communities. This will allow health care professionals in those communities to have access to local data on antibiotic resistance in order to make optimal decisions about treating infections with the most appropriate antibiotics.
AMR Dashboards to support veterinary antimicrobial stewardship
With funding from USDA APHIS, COHR is collaborating with the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and the WA Department of Health to create dashboard summaries of antibiotic resistance that can be used by antibiotic stewards to support stewardship efforts to promote judicious use of antibiotics in companion animals and livestock.