The COMBAT-AMR in Africa Network (Comprehensive Multi-Centre Bioinformatics-based Action to Tackle AMR in sub-Saharan Africa, Website: https://combat-amr.org) brings together six German Departments specializing in infectious diseases and/or tropical medicine with their long-standing partner institutions in five different countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Since its launch in 2016, HITM and University Hospital Düsseldorf have been integral partners.

The partnerships focus on strengthening the exchange and communication of results between microbiological laboratories and clinicians, and on collecting AMR surveillance data to support Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) activities in African partner hospitals through the implementation of a shared web-based surveillance and laboratory information system.

Completed and ongoing projects include:

• E-Health Study

• Surgical Site Infections (SSI) Study

• Urinary Tract Infections and Pathogens Study

• COVERSO Study

• Screening Study of ESBL-producing Gram-negative Bacteria

• POC-AMR Study for the Detection of ESBL and Carbapenemase

• Improving Sepsis Assessment among Vulnerable Groups (ISAVE) Study

Within the framework of the network, multiple joint workshops and training sessions, coordinated interventions, and successful collaborative scientific studies have already been conducted.