Between 17 and 21 April 2026, more than 17,000 participants attended the Congress of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID Global) in Munich, Germany. A seven-member delegation from ICARS took part in the congress, alongside project team representatives from Kenya and Colombia.
On 19 April, ICARS co-hosted a side event in partnership with the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID), the Global AMR R&D Hub, and the European One Health AMR Partnership. The session, titled “Detection to Decision Pathways: Leveraging AMR Diagnostics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Timely Action,” focused on advancing the use of diagnostics and AI to support faster, evidence-based responses.
In addition, abstracts from two ICARS-supported projects were presented, and representatives contributed to two scientific sessions and one meet-the-expert session during the congress.
AMR in action II (side-event)
The event brought together a diverse group of expert speakers to explore diagnostics, AI, and antimicrobial stewardship in practice, with more than 100 participants attending the event.
Opening words from:
- Muna Abu Sin (AMR Ambassador, Ministry of Health, Germany)
- Sally Roberts (ISID president)
- Danilo Lo Fo Wong (Head of Human Health, ICARS)
- Shahida Syed (Head of Secretariat, EUP-OHAMR)
- Lesley Ann Ogilvie (Director of Secretariat, Global AMR R&D HUB)
Speakers were:
- Javier Fernandez Dominguez (Pragmatech), a clinical microbiologist and AI innovator advancing antibiotic decision support
- Tom Chiller MD MPHTM (GAFFI Board Member), a global leader in infectious disease surveillance and public health systems (IMMY)
- Linnet Ochieng (ILRI), a microbiologist strengthening AMR diagnostics and data systems across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)
- Nada MALOU (MSF), an infectious diseases specialist focused on expanding access to diagnostics in low-resource settings
- Heiman Wertheim (Radboudumc), a clinical microbiologist focused on AMR across global health systems
- John W. A. Rossen (Groningen University Medical Centre), a leader in AI-driven AMR diagnostics and genomic innovation
The event was considered very timely in highlighting the need to address antifungal resistance and bringing in the importance of use of AI into diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship interventions and the focus around the implementation in low resource settings and in conflict zones.
Scientific sessions
Capacity strengthening in antimicrobial stewardship and infection, prevention and control in LMICs.
Organised by ICARS and the Dutch Society for Clinical Microbiology, the session presented the modality and results of applying knowledge transfer through the “Data-driven implementation of a behavioural Antimicrobial Stewardship approach and expert consultancy”. Drive-AMS is a model to strengthen AMS and infection prevention and control (IPC) at hospital level in LMICs. During the session, practical application of “drive-AMS” in East Africa, showcased how behaviour change strategies were adapted to local contexts and the outcomes achieved in AMS and IPC.
From global research priorities to national and local impact: implementing AMR priority research agendas.
Senior Science Advisor Gloria Cordoba emphasised ICARS’ role in bridging locally identified AMR problems and solutions with the One health priority research agenda for AMR (OHPRA). She explained that ICARS builds on and strengthens existing local research capacity, enabling countries not only to generate context-appropriate solutions, but also to effectively apply and sustain them over time. Finally, she highlighted that ICARS is actively expanding it’s One Health project portfolio to support the application of the OHPRA research pillars.
Posters
ICARS Project Lead Linnet Ochieng highlighted that a multi-component laboratory strengthening programme, combining standardisation and mentorship can significantly enhance antimicrobial susceptibility testing AST capacity in LMICs. Such an approach can also deliver measurable improvements, including closer alignment with EUCAST and CLSI methodologies across laboratories.
ICARS Project coordinator Dr Natalia Restrepo Arbalaez presented findings from a qualitative study examining implementers’ perspectives on IPC co-authored by Dr. Mabel De Leo Science Officer at ICARS and researchers from Universidad El Bosque, Maastricht University, Bristol University and the Ministry of Health from Colombia. The study explored how IPC guidelines are interpreted in everyday practice, how team norms define what is considered “good” practice, and how staff navigate time pressure and limited resources in the ICUs.
The results showed that within the Colombian context, IPC implementation is strongly influenced by hierarchy, professional authority, and social status, which shaped who can enforce or overlook recommended practices. Although Colombia has established IPC policies and regulations, their consistent application is often hindered by weak oversight and structural constraints, including staffing and personal protective equipment shortages, making protocols difficult to sustain in routine clinical work. Overall, the findings underscore the need for IPC interventions to be designed with context specific ICU workflows in mind, considering the practical constraints and social dynamics that influence day-to-day practice. These qualitative findings will inform the practical implementation of refined IPC bundles across participating ICUs.
Meet-the-expert session
Quality controlled AST: use your cell phone and your data
The session addressed the use of semi-automated AST reading and interpretation solutions such as Antibiogo, a smartphone-based medical device designed to support laboratories in LMICs developed by MSF in partners with EUCAST development laboratory and ICARS. The session highlighted the performance of antibiogo and similar devices, and their advantages in improving result accuracy, consistency, and reliability. There was discussion on the added value of generating photographic records of AST plates, which can be leveraged for external quality control programs or telemedicine support.
Wrap-up reflections
ESCMID Global represents a high-impact strategic platform for ICARS and the countries it supports. It is the leading global conference on AMR, valued for its ability to convene key stakeholders across research, policy, and implementation. The increasing participation from partners in LMICs strengthens the congress’ alignment with ICARS’ mission and strategic priorities.
