Addressing multidrug-resistant bacterial and fungal infections in newborns

As part of a continued commitment to addressing neonatal infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and fungi in Vietnam, the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute recently organized a specialized training session at Hung Vuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. This initiative is a crucial component of the SAPPHIRE – NeoCOL research project, which aims to investigate neonatal infections in countries across Southeast Asia and the Pacific with high disease burdens and antimicrobial resistance rates.

The training brought together a distinguished team of experts from Australia and Vietnam. Leading the session were Associate Professor Phoebe Williams, Mr. Robert Kelleghan, and Ms. Michelle Harrison from the University of Sydney, Australia. Representing the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute were Dr. Duong Nu Tra My, Laboratory Manager, and MSc. Pham Thanh An, Senior Officer for Antimicrobial Stewardship Projects. From Hung Vuong Hospital, Dr. Phan Thi Hang, Deputy Director of the hospital, participated along with many healthcare professionals actively involved in the NeoCOL study.

The capacity-building program was designed to ensure that all participating healthcare staff at Hung Vuong Hospital clearly understood the study’s objectives, methodology, implementation procedures, and expected outcomes. A particular focus was placed on hands-on training following international standard operating procedures (SOPs) for participant recruitment, sample collection and processing, and data collection. Strict adherence to these protocols is essential to ensure the generation of reliable data, which will ultimately contribute to improved diagnostics and treatment strategies for neonatal infections caused by MDR bacteria and fungi—conditions that are often under-recognized in clinical practice.

This training event at Hung Vuong Hospital marks a significant milestone in strengthening medical and research capacity in Vietnam and contributes to the global fight against antimicrobial resistance—one of the most pressing health challenges of the 21st century.

Read more about NeoCOL research here: https://neoseap.com/neocol/