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Bach Mai Hospital, BD and FIND conduct AMR Scorecard training in Viet Nam to improve laboratory quality

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  • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Laboratory Quality Scorecard aims to establish and increase the quality of clinical microbiology services to improve infection prevention and control in hospitals and laboratories
  • Assessors’ training took place at Bach Mai Hospital, 3–5 April 2019

Hanoi, Viet Nam & Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA – 11 April 2019 – Bach Mai Hospital, BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) in Viet Nam jointly organized an Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Laboratory Quality Scorecard Assessors Training that took place at Bach Mai Hospital on 3–5 April 2019. The AMR Laboratory Quality Scorecard aims to establish and increase the quality of clinical microbiology services, to improve appropriate use of diagnostics to guide patient management, and to optimize surveillance and early detection of AMR in hospitals and laboratories. The training brought together participants from seven hospitals from the north, central and south of Viet Nam, and the Government Medical College in Aurangabad, India.

It is estimated that, globally, 700,000 deaths each year are caused by drug-resistant pathogens; by 2050, if no actions are taken to contain AMR, that figure is predicted to rise to 10 million deaths per year.1 The economic and human cost of this global health threat will fall disproportionately on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).2

The AMR Laboratory Quality Scorecard combines the quality management systems approach of the World Health Organization (WHO)-AFRO SLIPTA checklist3 with requirements for the technical performance of AMR-related diagnostics from tools developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and others. It comprises a modular checklist for blood, urine and stool culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Culture-based detection is the focus, as an important patient management tool that plays a critical role in AMR surveillance.

Mock assessments using the AMR Laboratory Quality Scorecard were conducted at the two microbiology laboratories of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and Bach Mai Hospital. An experience-sharing session was organized with participation of observers from the Viet Nam Administration for Medical Services, Bach Mai Hospital, WHO Viet Nam, the US CDC office in Hanoi, and the FHI360. Trainees and observers found the AMR Laboratory Quality Scorecard useful, and recommended more pilots and implementation support.

“The AMR Scorecard is a very simple, useful tool that is also a helpful guide to lab set up,” said Nhung Pham Hong, Deputy Head of Microbiology Department, Hanoi Medical University and Deputy Head of Microbiology Department, Bach Mai Hospital. “We were happy to co-organize this training and see it in practice – at the pilot assessments, the assessors gave many valuable recommendations for improving our lab quality.”

“Practical tools that improve the use and impact of tests is a key part of our AMR strategy,” said Zachary Katz, Chief Access Officer at FIND. “Our deep experience in lab strengthening has shown just how critical quality is, and we believe the AMR Scorecard has the potential to spur significant improvements in this area. It is encouraging to see the interest it is generating in Viet Nam, and hear such positive feedback from the workshop participants here.”

“BD has a strong history and decades of experience in strengthening lab systems in developing countries, particularly with our Labs for Life partnership with the US CDC, PEPFAR and ministries of health around the world,” said Renuka Gadde, vice president, Global Health at BD. “Contributing to the development and implementation of this standardized AMR Scorecard to identify areas in which the quality of lab services can be improved is a natural fit for us, and we are glad to know that the participants from Viet Nam found that this tool could be useful for their country.”

Feedback from the sessions included:

  • “I have been using quite a lot of checklists. Some of them are very extensive and very good but I believe I like this checklist most because it is very specific to AMR. It allows me to assess the stage of antimicrobial susceptibility better at the laboratory, and could also improve the quality of the lab data. It helps me modify and improve the quality of the SOPs.” – Jyoti Iravane, Professor & Head of Microbiology, In-charge TB & HIV Laboratories, Government Medical College, Aurangabad, India
  • “It is very important to have an electronic tool for AMR labs. And it is great if that tool can be adapted to meet our expectations, both for the lab and nationally – labs can use the tool for their quality check, and also the country can see the quality of the lab. It is really useful tool and great training, combining both lectures and practice. We look forward to seeing the updated version. Thank you for organizing this training in Viet Nam.” – Lan Nguyen Thi Phong, Public Health Specialist, AMR/IPC (GHSA), US CDC in Viet Nam.
  • “The discussions have been very useful and this tool can be very valuable. I think it could be helpful for the hospital itself but also the higher level to see where the gaps are, in guidelines, etc. I really like the idea of internal assessment, so labs can continue their quality improvements. I think it complements the MOH’s checklist very well. I am also interested to continue discussions on how this tool can be adapted specifically for Viet Nam. I think the labs themselves and programmes such as WHO’s would be very happy to continue discussions on how best to use this tool.” – Orla Condell, Technical Officer (Laboratories), WHO Representative Office for Viet Nam.

It is anticipated that implementation of the AMR Laboratory Quality Scorecard will result in measurable outcomes that will impact AMR, including better use of diagnostics for patient management leading to improved patient care, and reduction in inappropriate antibiotic prescribing.

In addition to funding from BD, FIND’s involvement in this project is supported by UK aid from the British people.

1 O’Neill J (chair). Tackling drug-resistant infections globally: final report and recommendations, 2016. https://amr-review.org/sites/default/files/160525_Final%20paper_with%20cover.pdf (accessed 1 March 2019)
2 Adeyi, O et al. Drug-resistant infections: a threat to our economic future (Vol. 2). Final report (English). Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group, 2017. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/323311493396993758/final-report (accessed 1 March 2019)
3 Stepwise Laboratory Quality Improvement Process Towards Accreditation (SLIPTA): https://www.who.int/tb/laboratory/afro-slipta-checklist-guidance.pdf (accessed 1 March 2019)

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About Bach Mai Hospital
Founded in 1911, the once small Cong Vong Contagious Hospital has developed over its 100 year history. Bach Mai Hospital (BMH) has now become a leading comprehensive general hospital with spacious facilities, synchronized modern equipment and qualified staffs, who are comprised of professors, PhD holders, doctors, physicians, pharmacists, technicians, nurses, midwives, and others. Our fantastic staff and facilities enable BMH to fulfill every task assigned by the Ministry of Health, such as providing medical services at the highest level of the Vietnamese healthcare system, training, scientific research, guiding lower level hospitals, disease prevention, international cooperation and health-economic management.

About BD
BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics and the delivery of care. The company supports the heroes on the frontlines of health care by developing innovative technology, services and solutions that help advance both clinical therapy for patients and clinical process for health care providers. BD and its 65,000 employees have a passion and commitment to help improve patient outcomes, improve the safety and efficiency of clinicians’ care delivery process, enable laboratory scientists to better diagnose disease and advance researchers’ capabilities to develop the next generation of diagnostics and therapeutics. BD has a presence in virtually every country and partners with organizations around the world to address some of the most challenging global health issues. By working in close collaboration with customers, BD can help enhance outcomes, lower costs, increase efficiencies, improve safety and expand access to health care. In 2017, BD welcomed C. R. Bard and its products into the BD family. For more information on BD, please visit bd.com.

About FIND
FIND is a global non-profit organization that drives innovation in the development and delivery of diagnostics to combat major diseases affecting the world’s poorest populations. Our work bridges R&D to access, overcoming scientific barriers to technology development; generating evidence for regulators and policy-makers; addressing market failures; and enabling accelerated uptake and access to diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Since 2003, we have been instrumental in the development of 24 new diagnostic tools. Over 50 million FIND-supported products have been provided to 150 LMICs since the start of 2015. A WHO Collaborating Centre, we work with more than 200 academic, industry, governmental, and civil society partners worldwide, on over 70 active projects that cross six priority disease areas. FIND is committed to a future in which diagnostics underpin treatment decisions and provide the foundation for disease surveillance, control and prevention.

Media contacts
Bach Mai Hospital: Thanh Duong Thi Mai, Officer, Social Work Department
M: +84 985 75 27 41
maithanh12a01@gmail.com

BD: Gwen Gordon, Senior Manager, Public Relations
T: +1 858-812-3724
M: +1 858-352-8462
gwen.gordon@bd.com

FIND: Yen Nguyen, Representative of FIND in Viet Nam, Programme Coordinator
T: +84 246 32 88 829
M: +84 975 33 17 29
Sarah-Jane Loveday, Head of Communications
T: +41 (0) 22 710 27 88
M: +41 (0) 79 431 62 44
media@finddx.org