Improving surveillance of antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Europe

The network ISARPAE gathers 37 researchers from 17 European countries, including multiple national reference centres on P. aeruginosa antibiotic resistance. The network has 4 main objectives. 1.

Create a forum of experts/researchers working on P. aeruginosa antimicrobial resistance to define the focus, procedures strategies and priorities for surveillance.

Specifically, it will define and reach consensus on: (i) panels of antibiotics to be tested (ii) updated MDR/XDR/DTR definitions in the light of novel agents (iii) procedures, databases and knowledge gaps for phenotypic, molecular and genomic detection of resistance mechanisms (iv) definitions, list, characterization, and criteria for monitoring of main high-risk clones. 2.

Training clinical microbiologists, ID physicians and researchers: Hands on workshop on P. aeruginosa resistance phenotypes and whole genome sequence resistome analysis. Two editions of 5 days workshops gathering each 20 students and 12 faculty, with final plenary network meeting. 3. Provide advice, support and mentorship to less experienced or lower resources laboratories in Europe.

Workshop invitation, laboratory manuals and rational documents, travel grants, online training meetings. 4.

Develop the basis for a coordinated action with relevant stakeholders at European level such as ESCMID, ECDC, EARS-net, CAESAR network and EUCAST.