Innovation: Antibiogo is already implemented in DRC and Jordan, and soon within other Doctors Without Borders' Labs

23/11/2022

Yemen

A microbiology laboratory technician is using Antibiogo in CHK Hospital

A microbiology laboratory technician is using Antibiogo at CHK Hospital in Kinshasa. Democratic Republic of Congo, 2019. © MSF

According to the WHO, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing public health threats in our time. Health authorities estimate that more than half of all antibiotics are used inappropriately, mainly in many low- or middle-income countries (LMICs). AMR cannot be measured in these countries due to a lack of technical and human resources to detect and monitor it. Consequently, it is imperative to find rapidly deployable responses to address the health emergency and halt the spread of AMR.

MSF Foundation (Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders) is developing Antibiogo, the first CE-marked, in vitro medical device designed, developed, and tested for and with LMICs. This tool, which is a reading application (or app), makes it possible to interpret antibiograms and give a reliable and practical response to ensure the safe prescription of antibiotics.

With Antibiogo, any microbiology laboratory technician, anywhere in the world, will be able to read and interpret an Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test (AST) directly on any phone and know the resistance profile of the bacteria responsible for patient infection.

Dr. Nada Malou, Antibiogo Programme Head

The fight against antibiotic resistance is based on a multidisciplinary response with correct diagnosis being an essential pillar

Before initiating antibiotic treatment, pathogenic bacteria need to be clearly identified and tested for susceptibility to antibiotics. In this case, a sample should be taken from the patient, bacteria are identified, and an AST is performed. In high-income countries, antibiotic prescription is facilitated by the use of automated systems to read and interpret AST, and by the expertise of microbiologists. But in LMICs the lack of equipment, clinical microbiologists, and training makes the test interpretation, much more complicated and often absent. Consequently, AST is often misinterpreted, and this has been evident in the 70 countries in which Doctors Without Borders operates. Patients are frequently seen arriving in hospitals with bacterial infections which do not respond to antibiotic treatment.

To help doctors in LMICs prescribe the most effective antibiotics for their patients, MSF Foundation has created a tool that can interpret photos of AST.

Learn more about Antibiogo

Safe and reliable interpretation of AST thanks to a groundbreaking app: Antibiogo

Antibiogo is a diagnostic tool enabling non-expert laboratory technicians to measure and interpret AST. It is based on image processing, artificial intelligence technology, and an expert system that simulates a specialist's knowledge.

The app has been developed by MSF Foundation staff with 15 Google.org Fellows who supported them full-time, pro bono throughout 12 months and granted a software license from a specialist microbiology company, i2a. In practice, the app enables laboratory technicians to measure inhibition zone diameters, and then interpret the results without requiring any expertise in microbiology. In the field, the results show a very high level of concordance, ranging from 90–98 % depending on the bacteria, when compared with an interpretation carried out by qualified microbiologists. Non-expert laboratory technicians working in LMICs are now able to measure and interpret AST to provide accurate results.

A technician from the bacteriology laboratory of the CSref of Koutiala seeds culture media in order to carry out identification tests on colonies Labo CSREF. Mali, 2021. © Ismael Diallo

Antibiogo: a great hope for slowing antibiotic resistance in LMICs

Antibiogo is the first CE-marked, in vitro medical device designed by MSF Foundation. This tool, which is a free downloadable app, provides a concrete response to slowing AMR in all countries by facilitating access to quality bacteriological diagnosis. The results can also be used for monitoring purposes and to update empirical treatment based on actual etiology.

The Antibiogo app is being implemented in several Doctors Without Borders laboratories, including Jordan and Kinshasa DRC and by December in Mali, the Central African Republic and Yemen and is intended to be deployed more extensively. With time, the app will be a tool for healthcare professionals in all LMICs