Leveraging Genomic Surveillance In Battle Against COVID: A Potential Weapon Against Antibiotic Resistance

A group of international researchers, including experts from the Indian Council of Medical Research, has proposed the use of genomic surveillance as a crucial tool in combating the pressing public health challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Drawing parallels with its success in understanding the evolution and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus during the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers suggest that genomic surveillance could play a pivotal role in tackling the growing threat of antibiotic resistance worldwide.*

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when drugs designed to combat infectious bacteria and fungi lose their effectiveness due to the microbes developing the ability to overcome these drugs. Responsible for approximately 1.27 million deaths in 2019, AMR is a significant global health issue that could potentially cause even more deaths than the current coronavirus pandemic, reaching an estimated 10 million deaths annually by 2050, according to some projections.

The Role of Genomic Surveillance in AMR Mitigation

In an article published in the journal The Lancet Microbe, the research team emphasized the potential of genomic surveillance in improving the understanding and control of AMR. They highlighted its successful application during the Covid-19 pandemic, where it aided in identifying infection sources, detecting variants, and assessing the effectiveness of public health measures.

The researchers believe that genomic surveillance holds even greater promise for AMR pathogens, as it can detect and track outbreaks, offering effective solutions for antibiotic treatment. Additionally, the technique can unveil mechanisms for resistance, including mutations and the acquisition of new DNA, providing insights into the movement of resistance mechanisms between bacteria.

Overcoming Barriers to Implementation

Despite the promise of genomic surveillance, the researchers acknowledged several barriers that need to be addressed for its effective implementation. These include a lack of resources and political will, the need for increased training in bioinformatics, and practical challenges such as weak epidemiological surveillance and microbiology infrastructure in many countries.

Sharon Peacock, author and researcher at the University of Cambridge, UK, stated, "When the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, we showed how powerful a tool genomic surveillance could be in helping us fight back. We now need to take what we learned from the pandemic, including its bold and large-scale use, and reapply it to the complex problem of AMR."

Elita Jauneikaite, researcher from Imperial College, London, added, "Genomic surveillance offers real promise to help us fight back, providing invaluable information to limit the spread and impact of AMR." The authors are part of the Surveillance and Epidemiology of Drug-resistant Infections Consortium (SEDRIC), a health-based think tank focused on drug-resistant infection surveillance and epidemiology.

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