Title: University of Oxford: Antimicrobial resistance and healthcare associated infections
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: Our vision is to find better ways to manage and prevent threats from antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections, by detecting them faster, working out who needs protecting most and how we can do this. We plan three broad themes, to Better understand who is affected by antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections, and why, including the impact of inequalities and aging, and how we can monitor these conditions. We will do this by combining many different types of big data about patients and the microbes that make them ill. [ Populations ] Use this information to work out how we can reduce healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance, in ways the NHS can afford and that target those at highest risk. We will explore whether we should use drugs, tests for infections and vaccinations differently; or change the ways healthcare professionals interact with patients, empowering patients to manage their health and antibiotic use better. [ Interventions ] Understand how healthcare-associated and antimicrobial-resistant infections can be affected by what happens on farms or in both the general and hospital environment. [ Contexts ] Our themes will be jointly led by University and Public Health England researchers, to make sure we address the most important questions to help protect the public, and that our findings can quickly and directly inform policy and change practice. We will use Traditional and new ways of investigating diseases, e.g. using genetic data and looking for patterns in linked big data from microbes and electronic records about patients' health, regionally and nationally Robust statistical and economic methods Detailed modelling, and Models of behaviours around health choices. We will Bring world-class Oxford researchers with experience in many different areas, including the Big Data Institute and Social Sciences, together with patient representatives and highly-experienced scientists from Public Health England, Leeds University and the Animal and Plant Health Agency Train junior researchers in the new methods needed to answer these questions and support them to become research leaders. Outcomes include Better use of routinely-collected electronic health records to monitor and manage infections, reducing data collection burden for the NHS Better estimates of future trends in antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections, and when we need to change commonly-used antibiotics Recognition of important at-risk populations to target with future actions to prevent healthcare-associated infections, and approaches to use antibiotics better Comparisons of the potential for antimicrobial resistance to spread through different routes, and strategies to reduce this.

Lay abstract: Our vision is to find better ways to manage and prevent threats from antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections, by detecting them faster, working out who needs protecting most and how we can do this. We plan three broad themes, to Better understand who is affected by antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections, and why, including the impact of inequalities and aging, and how we can monitor these conditions. We will do this by combining many different types of big data about patients and the microbes that make them ill. [ Populations ] Use this information to work out how we can reduce healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance, in ways the NHS can afford and that target those at highest risk. We will explore whether we should use drugs, tests for infections and vaccinations differently; or change the ways healthcare professionals interact with patients, empowering patients to manage their health and antibiotic use better. [ Interventions ] Understand how healthcare-associated and antimicrobial-resistant infections can be affected by what happens on farms or in both the general and hospital environment. [ Contexts ] Our themes will be jointly led by University and Public Health England researchers, to make sure we address the most important questions to help protect the public, and that our findings can quickly and directly inform policy and change practice. We will use Traditional and new ways of investigating diseases, e.g. using genetic data and looking for patterns in linked big data from microbes and electronic records about patients' health, regionally and nationally Robust statistical and economic methods Detailed modelling, and Models of behaviours around health choices. We will Bring world-class Oxford researchers with experience in many different areas, including the Big Data Institute and Social Sciences, together with patient representatives and highly-experienced scientists from Public Health England, Leeds University and the Animal and Plant Health Agency Train junior researchers in the new methods needed to answer these questions and support them to become research leaders. Outcomes include Better use of routinely-collected electronic health records to monitor and manage infections, reducing data collection burden for the NHS Better estimates of future trends in antibiotic use, antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections, and when we need to change commonly-used antibiotics Recognition of important at-risk populations to target with future actions to prevent healthcare-associated infections, and approaches to use antibiotics better Comparisons of the potential for antimicrobial resistance to spread through different routes, and strategies to reduce this.

Research activity codes: 2.6 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (AETIOLOGY);4.5 RESOURCES AND INFRASTRUCTURE (DETECTION)
Health categories: INFECTION