Project: The Antimicrobial Resistance in Intensive Care (AMRIC) Network: A global surveillance network to monitor the role of the ICU environment in the emergence of AMR; Phase 1

Acronym	AMRIC-NET (Reference Number: JPIAMR_2016_N006)
Duration	01/01/2017 - 31/12/2017
Project Topic	The intensive care unit (ICU) treats the most seriously ill patients in the contemporary health care system. Because of pre-existing illnesses and a high prevalence of infection - both as an admitting diagnosis and as a complication of ICU care – up to 75% of ICU patients are exposed to antibiotics during their ICU stay, and colonization or infection with resistant organisms is common. Patterns of resistance vary strikingly around the world, however, suggesting that there are potentially modifiable factors that can be targeted to minimize the emergence of resistance. We will leverage the collective resources of the International Forum for Acute Care Trialists (InFACT), a global network of close to 30 organizations that conduct investigator-led research into the optimal care of critically ill patients, to design a geographically representative surveillance program to track antimicrobial resistance in ICUs around the world, and to identify environmental and practice-dependent risk factors that are amenable to change. During this initial phase of the program we will conduct a scoping review to identify key data elements to include in this surveillance program, and to determine the simplest and most costeffective manner of capturing key data. In collaboration with InFACT programs to map global capacity for critical care, to define the denominator in international prevalence studies, and to define the incidence of severe acute respiratory infection treated within the ICU, we will develop a pilot network of ICUs to launch the Antimicrobial Resistance in Intensive Care (AMRIC) network. Finally we will use the data from these initial activities to develop a business plan and to seek long term sustainable funding. The global challenge of antimicrobial resistance requires global solutions. By addressing the impact of a venue within the health care system that is a major user of antibiotics and a key reservoir of resistant organisms, and ultimately doing so on a comprehensive international level, we seek to support efforts to address a major health challenge of the 21st century.
Website	visit project website
Network	JPI AMR
Call	4th Joint Call: Research Networking Programmes

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	University of Toronto	Coordinator	Canada
2	University of Toronto	Observer	Canada
3	University of Toronto	Observer	Canada
4	University of British Columbia	Observer	Canada
5	Imperial College London	Observer	United Kingdom
6	Friedrich-Schiller-University	Observer	Germany
7	Universidad Complutense de Madrid	Observer	Spain