Building bridges to operationalise one health – A Sino-Swedish collaboration to tackle antibiotic resistance

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is a complex global health challenge. The recent Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance highlights the importance of adopting One Health approaches that can cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. We report on the early experiences of a multisectoral Sino-Swedish research project that aims to address gaps in our current knowledge and seeks to improve the situation through system-wide interventions. Our research project is investigating antibiotic use and resistance in a rural area of China through a combination of epidemiological, health systems and laboratory investigations. We reflect here on the challenges inherent in conducting long distance cross-disciplinary collaborations, having now completed data and sample collection for a baseline situation analysis. In particular, we recognise the importance of investing in aspects such as effective communication, shared conceptual frameworks and leadership. We suggest that our experiences will be instructive to others planning to develop similar international One Health collaborations.

Study protocol for One Health data collections, analyses and intervention of the Sino-Swedish integrated multisectoral partnership for antibiotic resistance containment (IMPACT)

“…In 2013, 10 research and governmental organisations in China and Sweden were granted funding from a joint call between the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Swedish Research Council to pursue a project named Sino-Swedish Integrated Multisectoral Partnership for Antibiotic Resistance Containment , abbreviated IMPACT. 18 Funding was granted for 5 years, and the project formally started in January 2014.…”

“…All instruments are developed in a close interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration, in line with the holistic thinking in the project. 18 …”

Identical genotypes of community‐associated MRSA (ST59) and livestock‐associated MRSA (ST9) in humans and pigs in rural China

“…Although the transfer ability of LA‐MRSA among humans is lower than that of other strains of MRSA, CC398 is increasing in clinical settings (Hetem, Bootsma, Troelstra, & Bonten, ). Human and animal health care are interlinked, and a One Health approach should be applied to understand the dissemination of MRSA between the human and the animal sectors (Cars et al., ).…”

The challenges of investigating antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam - what benefits does a One Health approach offer the animal and human health sectors?

“…The participants at the provincial level spoke of the limited financial support to undertake interdisciplinary work or collaborate with other sectors due to institutional barriers set by higher management. Limited resources allocated to facilitating cross-sectorial collaboration has been a reported barrier to enabling networks [34]; although, it is essential to support the establishment of networks amongst the different levels of government, non-government and international organisations.…”