Maximising the utility of connected data in ECRAID-Base, Part 3: EPI-Net
In the third part of our series dedicated to the Data work package in the EU-funded ECRAID-Base project, we shine a spotlight on epidemiological research. The EPI-Net team strengthens the consortium's ability to monitor healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance across Europe.
Data is a crucial part of modern clinical research. The EU-funded ECRAID-Base project allocates significant resources to ensure that Ecraid, its networks, and the affiliated studies establish a benchmark in data management, utilisation, and sharing.
This ambitious endeavour is spearheaded by the project’s Work Package 9 (WP9), which is organised into four work streams: Data management (9A), Ethics, data harmonisation and data sharing (9B), Epidemiological research (9C, EPI-Net), and Statistical research (9D, STAT-Net).
EPI-Net
EPI-Net originated within the EU-funded COMBACTE project, with the mission to harmonise and connect various European disease surveillance systems by integrating clinical, microbiologic, and public health data. Today, EPI-Net complements the ECRAID-Base project by strengthening its ability to monitor healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) across Europe.
The EPI-Net team comprises eight researchers led by Evelina Tacconelli, Ecraid CSO and professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Verona, who are based at the University of Verona and the University of Tübingen.
One of its newest members, Jacopo Garlasco, brings fresh energy and enthusiasm to this meaningful undertaking. We spoke with him about the team's objectives, accomplishments, and challenges.
How does EPI-Net contribute to the ECRAID-Base project?
Firstly, EPI-Net is a diverse team of experts working together, each contributing unique skills and perspectives to help achieve the goals of ECRAID-Base. Its key added value lies in its effort to develop a comprehensive view of AMR surveillance data and healthcare-associated infections across 32 European countries. This is achieved by integrating multiple data sources.
By summarising evidence gathered from national and international surveillance systems as well as published studies, EPI-Net informs site selection for new trials conducted by Ecraid’s network. Additionally, it facilitates innovative analyses of AMR burden, with a current focus on urinary tract infections, as part of POS-cUTI.
What are some of WP9C’s most important accomplishments over the past three years?
We have managed to establish the foundation for ECRAID-Base’s ambitious data goals. This includes the creation of an integrated data repository for the various areas under investigation: antimicrobial resistance, healthcare-associated infections, outbreaks, candidemiae, and emerging resistance. Furthermore, developing a process for data transfer from our perpetual observation studies (POSs) to EPI-Net has been crucial, as these two basic steps are essential for enabling any analysis.
EPI-Net has also successfully synthesised this data into peer-reviewed publications and reports. The first annual epidemiological report, featuring EPI-Net data, was published in February 2024, with another scheduled for February 2025. We hope these two will mark the beginning of many more to come!
It’s the final year of the ECRAID-Base project. What are your team goals for this year?
Our primary goal is to keep up with the latest developments in all areas we monitor. Establishing a timely, dynamic, and complete data repository is essential for achieving the objectives of EPI-Net and, more broadly, ECRAID-Base.
Besides this, we aim to finalise our work by synthesising data into upcoming reports and studies, providing a comprehensive overview of antimicrobial resistance and infectious diseases in Europe. Our biggest challenge this year is the conclusive EPI-Net task: Estimating the burden of complicated urinary tract infections based on observational data from our POS-cUTI study. This is the cherry on top of all our multidisciplinary efforts on the entire project.
What have you learned from working on a large international project like ECRAID-Base?
One of the first things I learned is the paramount importance of interprofessional interaction at every stage of research. Each data-related activity – from finding, retrieving and collection, to analysis and interpretation, yields better results and is less prone to mistakes, when done together as a team.
I also learned the value of patience in searching sources. Every report can be a precious source of information, which must be carefully checked. After all, robust data is the foundation of sound research, making thorough searches a worthwhile investment.
What are some of the challenges to fully utilise the integration of various types of data in Europe?
Integrating different data sources across Europe remains extremely challenging. Despite efforts by organisations, such as the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organisation, to establish surveillance recommendations and programmes for specific antibiotic-pathogen combinations, there’s more work to be done.
Many countries lack antimicrobial resistance and/or consumption surveillance, and even where active national monitoring exists, heterogeneous metrics and data types hinder effective benchmarking and comparison.
You’re co-organising Ecraid’s Young Investigator Workshop at ESCMID Global for the second time. What will be the focus of your program contributions this year?
I'm glad to be involved in organising this workshop with a team of passionate colleagues and build on the positive experience of last year’s event. While the programme is still being finalised, we are considering topics like innovative trial execution, research methodology, data collection, and collaboration and networking.
I'm really looking forward to meeting new colleagues in Vienna!