This project will extend European studies, both those already finalised as is HARMONY (infection control) or still undergoing data collection as are EARSS (antimicrobial resistance) and ESAC (antibiotic consumption) to southern and eastern Mediterranean partner countries which are not participants in these projects. In this way, both European and Mediterranean countries will benefit from the epidemiological analysis of antimicrobial resistance and improved policies on antibiotic consumption and infection control measures.

The specific objective over the 4 years of the ARMed project are to:

1. Initiate a network of experts on antibiotic resistance in the region thereby improving collaboration within the Euro-Mediterranean zone and influencing a common strategy and co-ordinated action at local and international levels in accordance with the terms of EU Council Resolution (1999/C 195/01).
2. Assemble a database on antibiotic resistance in selected medically relevant pathogens by undertaking a surveillance study in the Mediterranean partner countries through the collection of comparable antimicrobial susceptibility data using a standardised protocol
3. Compare results from ARMed with similarly collected data from the European Mediterranean countries by the EARSS network, creating a more complete picture of resistance in the region
4. Investigate antibiotic consumption patterns and infection control guidelines in use in the participating Mediterranean countries.
5. Link the data from the three separate sub-projects to attempt to elucidate any relationships between antimicrobial resistance, antibiotic consumption and infection control.

Project Overview

This project is divided into three main work packages, all three being epidemiological studies: ARMed-EARSS (WP2), ARMed-ESAC (WP3) and ARMED-HARMONY (WP4). These will follow similar procedures as those already performed by the respective European systems but will collect data principally from southern/eastern Mediterranean partner countries.

This project will establish a basic infrastructure to enable the other work packages to be executed in an efficient standardised consensual manner. It will also allow the best possible dissemination of related information between the project participants, the medical community and general public in the Euro-Mediterranean region. An ARMed internet website with unrestricted access will be set up. The website will be in English and will be freely accessible to all professionals involved in antibiotic resistance especially within the Mediterranean as well as to the public.