Background / scope

AMR presents a global problem with marginalised populations particularly affected. This is due to combinations of factors which include an increased burden or susceptibility to infectious diseases as well as interruptions to healthcare access. With current sociopolitical changes, global funding cuts, increase and changing nature of conflicts and increased burdens on the humanitarian system, challenges faced by these populations are set to increase. The aim of this group is therefore to bring together experts from different disciplines to characterise the problem and what evidence-based interventions can be recommended. This group will provide a coordinated international platform to generate evidence, coordinate research, and influence practice and policy to address AMR inequities.

Scope
Populations of interest included: conflict-affected populations; people living in extreme poverty/ informal settlements/ slums; refugees, migrants and displaced communities; indigenous and minority groups; people experiencing homelessness; populations experiencing natural disasters.

Areas of interest
AMR and related fields e.g. antimicrobial stewardship and prescribing; antimicrobial quality and access; infection prevention and control; laboratory access and disaggregated AMR surveillance. In particular, we focus on how to generate or utilise existing evidence for impact.

Aims / objectives

Our aim is to establish a multidisciplinary, international WG that advances understanding of AMR in marginalised populations and supporting equitable, evidence-informed interventions.

Objectives

Network Development and Collaboration

• Facilitate knowledge exchange among experts including clinicians, microbiologists, epidemiologists, social scientists and humanitarian actors.
• Collaborate with other relevant ISAC WGs and relevant groups outside of ISAC.

Research and Evidence Generation

• Map existing research and identify gaps related to AMR incidence, drivers, transmission pathways and outcomes in marginalised populations
• Promote collaborative research on community and health system level evidence generation on antibiotic access, prescribing behaviours and structural drivers of AMR.
• Explore the use of innovations and AI in predicting AMR scenarios among marginalised populations.

Education and Awareness Raising

• Facilitating education initiatives to raise awareness on different aspects of this topic e.g. webinars, seminars, policy documents, articles

Recommendations and Advocacy

• Support realistic, evidence-based recommendations to different actors to improve healthcare access, stewardships, diagnostics and infection prevention.
• Advocate for inclusion of marginalised populations into national and global AMR strategies and action plans.