Combating Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria in Africa through Diagnostic and Antimicrobial Stewardship (ComBac-Africa)
The ComBac-Africa consortium brings together partners from Africa and Europe with the mission to address the growing threat of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria (MDR GNB), which endanger human, animal, and environmental health. Sub-Saharan Africa faces some of the world’s highest burdens of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)-related illness and death, yet diagnostic infrastructure remains limited and access to effective treatments is scarce.
To bridge these gaps, ComBac-Africa will develop a needs-adapted diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship programme in Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, and Nigeria. This includes the implementation of diagnostic-therapeutic algorithms to support targeted treatment and equitable access to essential, often life-saving, antibiotics. A key component of the project is a clinical trial that will assess the real-world impact of this approach on improving outcomes for severe infections caused by MDR GNB.
Our Activities
Consortium
ComBac-Africa is coordinated by Prof Sören Becker from Universität des Saarlandes and brings together partners from several African and European countries and institutions, including:
Universität des Saarlandes, Germany
Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
Centre for Malaria and other Tropical Disease Care, Nigeria
Instituto Piaget, Portugal
Ministerio da Saúde Pública, Guinea-Bissau
Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University Makurdi, Nigeria
Institut Pasteur de Côte d’Ivoire, Côte d’Ivoire
LINQ management GmbH, Germany
GARDP Africa NPC, South Africa
GARDP Foundation, Switzerland
Schweizerisches Tropen- und Public Health-Institut, Switzerland
Fondation pour un Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques en Côte d’Ivoire, Côte d’Ivoire
Recent News
One year after its kick-off, ComBac-Africa is moving from preparation towards study implementation. At the 2026 Annual Meeting, partners shared progress on key activities, from preparing study sites to improved antibiotic access, and aligned on the next steps for the months ahead.