MSF Scientific Days International 2023

Resistance to antibiotics is a growing public health crisis, especially in countries with fragile health systems and in regions at war. The World Health Organization has estimated that antibiotic-resistant bacteria caused nearly 1.3 million deaths in 2019, a toll that will increase significantly in the coming years if effective action is not taken. To mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2022 (18-24 November) we present a snapshot of MSF’s recent work on responding to this growing threat. Since many humanitarian settings lack laboratory capacity to diagnose these infections, MSF and partners have developed two new technologies with the potential to dramatically expand the availability of accurate diagnosis—allowing clinicians to then tailor antibiotic treatment accordingly. Other work from diverse contexts describes practices and challenges related to optimizing rational antibiotic use within health facilities and communities. Lastly, several studies characterize the patterns and prevalence of antibiotic resistance among MSF patients, from hospitalized neonates in Central African Republic to acute trauma patients in Haiti and Yemen.

As the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic grips the world, one of its most devastating indirect effects is the disruption to medical services for preventing and treating other life-threatening diseases—especially in countries with already-fragile health systems. For MSF and other global health actors this means not only responding to Covid-19 directly but also assessing its impact on other essential care and then adapting programs so they can keep serving patients despite the enormous obstacles. In this Collection you will find a selection of published articles and conference content from this year’s MSF Scientific Days 2021 conference content, encompassing a range of approaches, settings and medical challenges—from malaria, TB and HIV/AIDS prevention and care to digital health promotion and sexual and reproductive health.