Kevin

Antimicrobial resistance remains a growing concern in the management of infectious diseases, with new research highlighting its potential role in predicting severe community-acquired pneumonia. #JASH2026 #NACNCDC2026 #UnifiedAction Presenting at the 20th Joint Annual Scientific Health Conference (JASH2026), Professor William Borotier shared findings from a Ugandan study examining molecular diagnostics and predictors of severe community-acquired pneumonia. The research found that patients with certain antimicrobial resistance genes had approximately twice the odds of developing severe community-acquired pneumonia. The BioFire platform also detected resistance genes among participants, raising important questions about the implications of antimicrobial resistance for patient outcomes. Professor Borotier emphasised that resistance genes should not be used as a standalone tool for diagnosing severe pneumonia. However, when considered alongside clinical parameters, they could help improve the identification of patients at risk of severe illness. He also noted that the findings were generated from referral hospitals and may not necessarily be generalisable to other healthcare settings. Nevertheless, they provide an important signal for further investigation into the relationship between microbial resistance and severe pneumonia. The findings reinforce the need for stronger antimicrobial resistance surveillance, improved diagnostic capacity and further research to inform clinical practice and patient management in Uganda. The message is clear: understanding antimicrobial resistance is essential not only for guiding treatment, but also for improving how we identify and respond to patients at risk of severe disease.