Dubai: The third annual conference of the Emirates Society of Clinical Microbiology has kicked off at Mohammed bin Rashid University for Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU) in Dubai. The three-day conference, held under the patronage of the Emirates Medical Association, hosts prominent speakers and experts in the field.
The opening day of the conference witnessed Dr. Jens Thomsen, Chair of the conference’s organizing committee and President of the Emirates Society of Clinical Microbiology (ESCM), present an in-depth discussion on the patterns and trends of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in the UAE.
AMR surveillance and Antibiotic Stewardship Programmes (ASP) are essential tools and interventions for slowing the emergence and spread of drug-resistant microorganisms in humans, animals, plants, and the environment. Currently, 45 clinical microbiology laboratories and 341 surveillance sites, such as hospitals, centers, and clinics, participate in the UAE’s national AMR surveillance.
Dr. Thomsen shared.
Dr. Thomsen observed an overall long-term increase in antibiotic resistance levels in the UAE over the last 13 years but clarified that for some clinically relevant bug-drug combinations, it has stabilized or even decreased in more recent years.
“There is an emerging trend of Candida auris that has been observed since 2018 as it emerged in many places in the world, and we found it in the region and UAE. It can persist on surfaces for extended periods and is often resistant to fluconazole, which limits therapeutic options. Furthermore, it is resistant to quaternary ammonium compounds used in hospital disinfectants,” Dr. Thomsen further noted.
The 3rd annual conference, organized in collaboration with the American Society for Microbiology, drew over 437 participants, including 27 national and 10 international speakers, delegates, experts, scientists, physicians, microbiology professionals, students, and industry specialists. The event offers a platform for sharing the latest research, findings, experiences, and guidelines in the field of clinical microbiology.
The conference’s agenda comprises 36 lectures covering an array of emerging topics and addressing the industry’s latest developments and challenges.