Developing Sustainable Global Partnerships to Strengthen Antimicrobial Stewardship, Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance, and Enhance Medication Safety

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and medication safety present significant global health challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where inadequate antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices exacerbate these issues. The proposed project seeks to address these challenges through a two-phase approach. The first phase focuses on international scholar engagement, fostering collaboration and capacity building by hosting and visiting scholars from LMICs including (but not limited to) Egypt, Jordan, Nigeria and other countries that will contribute to the remit of the projects at Ulster University. This phase includes research seminars, workshops, and meetings to exchange knowledge on AMS and medication safety, with the aim of identifying joint research opportunities and establishing sustainable global partnerships. In the second phase, the project will conduct a pilot study mainly in Jordan (and possibly Egypt and Nigeria) to investigate antimicrobial prescribing, consumption, resistance patterns, and medication safety. This study will employ WHO standardized assessment tools and a mixed-methods approach across both primary and secondary care settings in these countries. The pilot study aims to provide baseline data, improve understanding of local AMR and medication safety issues, and enhance the capacity of local researchers and healthcare professionals. The findings will be disseminated through publications and conferences presentations, contributing to global efforts to combat AMR and improve medication safety in LMICs.