Title: Epidemiology Network

Background: EPI-Net is a network of epidemiological surveillance experts and stakeholders in Europe, mapping current systems; to define methodological challenges, and develop research strategy for epidemiological studies; to pursue consensus for best-practices; and support research and development for new, effective antibiotics.

Primary Objective: to create an up-to-date surveillance platform integrating data from humans and animals, and providing information on prevalence and incidence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and healthcare associated infections (HAI), AMR outbreaks and emerging resistances to newly approved antibiotics, from epidemiological studies and surveillance systems in Europe.

Secondary Objective:

Implementation of frameworks for semi-automation of procedures for surveillance of HAIs
Building networks of healthcare centres sharing epidemiological data to receive statistical model-supported individualised feedback on interventions to reduce setting-specific AMR rates
Develop a consensus program to contribute to the homogenization of the approach on current and future epidemiologic surveillance strategies in Europe
Development of standardised decision-support models, capable of defining the thresholds in resistance data for various infectious disease syndromes and changing empirical antibiotic treatment protocols accordingly
Analysis of burden and outcomes of infections due to multidrug resistant organisms to inform Public Health Action

Cristina Magnabosco