Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern as some of the world’s most reliable antibiotics are becoming less effective against “superbugs”. This phenomenon occurs when bacteria, viruses, and parasites no longer respond to medicines, leading to increased infections and sickness. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that AMR threatens a century of medical progress and could potentially reverse the advancements made in treating infections. This issue causes millions of deaths annually and brings increased suffering, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, prompting the need for new solutions according to health experts.
Dr. Sylvia Omulo, a doctor of epidemiology from Washington State University, studies AMR by investigating the connections between humans, animals, and their shared environments, focusing on non-lethal microbes known as “colonisers”. These microbes, which spread harmlessly in humans and animals, provide essential clues to understanding the complex ecosystems that coexist inside them. By studying colonisers, Omulo has identified genes correlated to AMR, factors influencing susceptibility to resistant microbes, and the distribution of these traits in communities and hospitals. She also examines environmental and behavioral factors essential to understanding AMR, starting her work in communities such as Nairobi’s Kibera shanty town and farms near Lake Victoria.
Omulo criticizes the bias in current scientific approaches to studying AMR, highlighting the focus on antibiotic use in hospitals and the neglect of AMR in community settings. She emphasizes the importance of conducting community-based research studies, which are more challenging in high-income countries compared to low- and middle-income countries due to different healthcare systems. Omulo’s work in Kibera, a crowded shanty town with poor sanitation and high population density, allows her to investigate the relationship between environmental factors and AMR transmission, which can mask the role of antibiotic use in communities.
Studies in Kibera have revealed a direct relationship between environmental transmission factors and AMR, suggesting that poor sanitary conditions may play a significant role in AMR transmission. Omulo’s research has also uncovered relationships between AMR and poultry keeping, as well as visiting healthcare facilities in rural settings. By studying the colonisation process of non-lethal microbes, Omulo aims to determine the impact on individuals’ health and day-to-day activities. These findings shed light on the diverse factors driving AMR in community settings, distinct from those in hospital settings.
Dr. Omulo’s work contributes to the global understanding of AMR by emphasizing the importance of studying community environments to comprehend the full scope of the issue. Her research highlights the interconnectedness between community and hospital settings in contributing to the persistence of AMR. By addressing the elephant in the room and recognizing the multifaceted nature of AMR, Omulo’s findings underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive approach to combat this global health threat. She actively participates in the global push to understand and address AMR, working alongside the WHO to identify research focus areas and contribute valuable insights to the field.
