Sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are closely interconnected global health challenges. Each year, sepsis affects approximately 50 million people worldwide and causes an estimated 11 million deaths. The burden is particularly high in sub-Saharan Africa, where limited diagnostic capacities, restricted access to effective antimicrobial therapies and scarce resources for intensive care complicate the timely diagnosis and treatment of severe infections. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens further limits treatment options and contributes to poor clinical outcomes.

GHIDA develops and evaluates locally adapted strategies to improve the prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment of severe infections and sepsis. Its research takes regional characteristics into account, including local pathogen and resistance patterns, environmental conditions and physiological factors. For example, research conducted in Asella has shown that the city’s high altitude of approximately 2,400 meters above sea level may influence the validity of established sepsis scores, as reference values for parameters such as oxygen saturation and respiratory rate differ from those at sea level.

Current activities combine clinical research with improvements in microbiological diagnostics, infection prevention and control, and antibiotic stewardship. Projects focus on adapting clinical scores, expanding diagnostic capacities, characterizing local resistance patterns and investigating resistant pathogens in hospital-acquired infections, urinary tract infections, neonatal sepsis and environmental reservoirs within a One Health framework.

Together with regional and international partners, GHIDA is establishing modern diagnostic methods, including molecular resistance testing and next-generation sequencing (NGS). This includes participation in EpiGen Ethiopia, an EU-funded project that strengthens genomic sequencing and outbreak surveillance capacities in Ethiopia and also investigates antimicrobial resistance and pathogen transmission. Combined with improved culture-based methods and digital surveillance systems, these approaches enable faster identification of pathogens and resistance mechanisms and support more targeted antimicrobial therapy.

By integrating research, laboratory capacity building, clinical training and surveillance, GHIDA aims to strengthen the sustainable management of sepsis and antimicrobial-resistant infections in Ethiopia and beyond.