Data Challenge: Drivers and costs of AMR-related morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa

2026 Vivli AMR Surveillance Data Challenge: Expression of Interest Title: Drivers and costs of AMR-related morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa The increasing prevalence of resistant organisms threatens the effectiveness of essential medicines, resulting in treatment failures, prolonged illness, increased healthcare costs, and mortality. Amongst AMR drivers, hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are an increasing public health concern. We propose to use data from the SPIDAAR dataset, along with data from a large tertiary teaching hospital in Botswana that includes the same indicators as those in the SPIDAAR dataset. This analysis will (i) determine antimicrobial resistance rates in HAI and characterise antimicrobial susceptibility profiles among isolated strains in Botswana, (ii) characterize hospital admission times (including re-admissions), treatment outcomes and mortality rates among patients with resistant strains of nosocomial pathogens in Botswana, (iii) analyse the tracking AMR country self-assessment survey (TrACSS) reports for countries included in the SPIDAAR dataset to assess their AMR intervention status, more especially the infection and prevention pillar, and compare this against the findings from the SPIDAAR evaluation, and (iv) to estimate the healthcare costs associated with re-admissions due to HAIs including treatment costs and infection-related healthcare costs such as length of stay, diagnostic tests, and consultations. The analysis will also estimate potential cost-savings from prevention of HAIs and related hospital re-admissions. Our team is comprised of three clinicians, one of whom is a health economist, an epidemiologist and a microbiologist. The principal aim of this analysis is to generate evidence to inform policy, primarily in Botswana on strategies and practices to limit the occurrence of hospital readmissions and deaths due to resistant strains of nosocomial pathogens. If awarded, our team intend to use prize funds to host this year's AMR Awareness week in Botswana to drive actionable One Health solutions for AMR locally.