A powerful, high-quality microbiological laboratory is a crucial pillar of an effective antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance system. Recognizing this, Ukraine’s Antibiotic Resistance Plan places a strong emphasis on strengthening surveillance capabilities in the country.
To support the Antibiotic Resistance Plan’s implementation and increase the quality and speed of microbial identification in health-care facilities, the WHO Country Office in Ukraine donated AMR surveillance equipment and consumables to 10 laboratories nationwide, and consumables to 11 more laboratories that had already possessed the necessary equipment.
“AMR is one of the top public health threats globally, as it hinders effective prevention and treatment of infections,” explains Dr Jarno Habicht, WHO Representative in Ukraine. “WHO developed the Global Action Plan on AMR in 2015, and will continue to provide material resources and learning opportunities to help health-care workers combat AMR and protect the lives and health of their patients.”
New findings, enhanced quality
Equipment for AMR surveillance was donated predominantly to laboratories in the regions close to the frontline. All of these laboratories use the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) methodology, and all are members of the Central Asian and European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (CAESAR) network.
CAESAR collects data from 16 countries and 1 area, primarily in eastern Europe and central Asia. Ukraine joined CAESAR in 2017, and since 2021 has been a member of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS), established by WHO in 2015.
The microbiological analysers donated by WHO increase the speed and accuracy of microbial identification. Results can be derived 3 times faster, averaging 7 hours compared to 24 hours typically required by manual procedures.
The quality of the resulting data is also higher, which contributes to the effective implementation of an overarching quality system. Armed with reinforced AMR surveillance, laboratories can offer a wider range of services, standardize most of their processes and take better informed action to control AMR.
Dnipro City Hospital is one of many health facilities close to the frontline. Ms Larysa Karpenko, who manages the bacteriological laboratory, points out that due to the full-scale war, bacteriologists’ workload has significantly increased, and the need for automated replacements for manual work is dire.
“The microbiological analyser donated by WHO has streamlined laboratory workflow, enhanced productivity, and made our tests more accurate and efficient,” she says. She adds that the new automated analyser also identifies microorganisms that could not be seen in manual biochemical tests, and surgeons are impressed by the extent to which the spectrum of identified microorganisms has expanded.
Pursuit of excellence
In cooperation with the Public Health Center of Ukraine, WHO has delivered trainings on the implementation of the EUCAST methodology in daily laboratory work. Additionally, WHO is offering to visit microbiological laboratories to provide onsite technical assistance upon request.
With the WHO Country Office in Ukraine’s ongoing support, the number of laboratories that report to CAESAR has grown significantly. In 2017 only 4 laboratories in 3 regions were involved; 5 years later, the tally had increased to 67 laboratories spanning 22 regions of Ukraine. Compiling and sharing accurate data strengthens knowledge, accelerates research, and informs local, national and regional strategies to tackle AMR.
WHO is carrying out the work to strengthen AMR surveillance in Ukraine with financial assistance from the European Union (EU) within the EU–WHO initiative on health system development in Ukraine.