What if we run out of antibiotics to treat people who have multi-drug resistant infections? Would we be able to achieve Universal Health Coverage still? Or if we do not have technology to test for and detect an infection and decide the right antibiotics for a woman with postpartum sepsis? For countries with periodic outbreaks of cerebral meningitis or influenza, would being able to detect the first few cases not make all the difference in epidemic control?
It is in fact the case that many deaths worldwide and especially in Africa can be attributed to antibiotic resistance. A leading French biomedical company called bioMerieux known for their innovative in vitro diagnostics and syndromic testing panels are answering these questions and investing in diagnostics for epidemic-causing diseases and antimicrobial resistance within and outside Africa. At the recently concluded Africa Health Agenda International Conference 2019 (AHAIC2019), their comprehensive BioFire microbial testing panels were featured at the marketplace for innovations.
These panels are based on the ‘syndromic’ approach. In simpler terms, a single test is used to screen for all the possible organisms that can cause an infectious disease. There are 4 different syndrome panels available from the company currently – respiratory infections including pneumonia, gastrointestinal infections, meningitis/encephalitis and septicemia. This approach helps to speed up clinical decision making significantly and thus improve patient outcomes.
Experts all agree that quality of care provided at all levels of service must grow right alongside improved access to health care. When the quality of diagnostics in Africa is improved in quality and are timely, the chances of better patient care outcomes with better diagnostics is better guaranteed and achieving UHC becomes more likely.
In 2015, its global point prevalence survey was conducted in Nigeria, it was the first time that antimicrobial prescribing practices were evaluated in Nigerian hospitals.
Over the years, bioMerieux has developed a strong presence across Africa where it is involved in the journey to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) in Africa including investing in antimicrobial stewardship training and programs across the African continent and beyond.
