Following the rise of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), and the establishment of carbapenems as treatment of choice for serious infections with ESBL producers, carbapenem resistance is now an unfortunate part of modern healthcare. For Enterobacterales, carbapenem resistance is typically mediated by carbapenemases. These include Class A enzymes (most notably KPC), Class B enzymes (for example, NDM, IMP and VIM) and Class D enzymes (such as OXA-48 and related enzymes). Knowledge of the specific type of carbapenemase is important for therapy and infection control reasons in the ICU. From the therapeutic viewpoint, new antibiotics have quite a diversity in their spectrum of activity against carbapenemase producers. It is only with early and specific detection of AMR genes that use of new antibiotics can be optimised.

2. To describe the clinical impact of rapid syndromic testing in ICU setting.

Professor Paterson directs ADVANCE-ID (ADVANcing Clinical Evidence for Infectious Diseases) at Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. ADVANCE-ID is a clinical trials network comprising more than 40 hospitals across Asia. This network is jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and a number of Singaporean institutions with an aim to conduct clinically important trials in the field of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This comprises trials of antibiotics, diagnostics and prevention strategies. He is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland and has more than 500 peer-reviewed publications predominantly in the area of AMR. His research focuses on the molecular and clinical epidemiology of infections with antibiotic-resistant organisms, with the intent of translating knowledge into optimal prevention and treatment of these infections. Multi-country clinical trials are the major component of his research portfolio, and the predominant focus of ADVANCE-ID.