Overview
The World Health Organisation considers antibiotic resistance to be one of the greatest current threats to human health.
Laboratory identification of antibiotic resistant organisms relies predominantly on culture based susceptibility testing. Since antibiotic resistance is usually associated with genetic traits such as specific genes or mutations, genomic techniques can revolutionise how laboratories identify antibiotic resistant organisms and how infections caused by these pathogens are managed.
This research theme aims to use whole genome sequencing for enhanced laboratory identification of antibiotic resistant organisms, to help clinicians more rapidly and empirically make treatment decisions, particularly when slow growing or difficult to culture pathogens are involved, and to improve our understanding of the genetic mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance.