i-4-1-Health

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In 2014, the World Health Organisation declared antibiotic resistance to be one of the greatest threats to human health. Without supplementary measures, it is predicted that, by 2050, more people will die due to antibiotic-resistant pathogens than from cancer. Despite increasing resistance, however, no new antibiotics are expected to be marketed in the short term. i-4-1-Health, organised by the Amphia Hospital, with its main location in Breda, aims to reveal resistance amongst healthy citizens and patients and in the pork and poultry sectors. Professor Jan Kluytmans, who is heading the project, explains: Cross-border collaboration is crucial, as the spreading of antibiotic-resistant pathogens does not stop at national borders. This is specifically relevant in the Flanders-Netherlands border area, in view of the close trade and movement of persons, the cross-border use of healthcare facilities and the intensive cattle farming in the region. Collaboration between various disciplines, such as biological and biotech sciences, medicine (human and veterinary), nano and micro technology and agrofood is important. In addition to reinforcing the network on both national borders, two concrete tools have been created. On the one hand and thanks to the development of the digital measuring tool Infection Risk Scan (IRIS), infection risks can be analysed objectively and uniformly. IRIS measures processes such as cleaning, hand hygiene among healthcare providers and the correct use of medical resources and antibiotics. On the other hand, insight is required into who gets sick where, when and why, and into how the underlying pathogens are spread. With a number of partners, the software company Applied Maths will be developing and validating a track and trace system (TTS) in testing grounds for healthcare, public health and cattle farming. A complete A-Z procedure – from sampling to interpretation of the data gathered – is being set up to promptly trace and tackle the transmission routes of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.

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