Mapping twenty years of antimicrobial resistance research trends

Christian F Luz; J Magnus van Niekerk; Julia Keizer; Nienke Beerlage-de Jong; L M Annemarie Braakman-Jansen; Alfred Stein; Bhanu Sinha; J E W C van Gemert-Pijnen; Corinna Glasner

doi:10.1016/j.artmed.2021.102216

Mapping twenty years of antimicrobial resistance research trends

Artif Intell Med. 2022 Jan:123:102216. doi: 10.1016/j.artmed.2021.102216. Epub 2021 Nov 20.

Authors

Christian F Luz¹, J Magnus van Niekerk², Julia Keizer³, Nienke Beerlage-de Jong⁴, L M Annemarie Braakman-Jansen³, Alfred Stein⁵, Bhanu Sinha⁶, J E W C van Gemert-Pijnen⁴, Corinna Glasner⁶

Affiliations

¹ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Hanzeplein 1, 9700RB Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: c.f.luz@umcg.nl.
² University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Hanzeplein 1, 9700RB Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Twente, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, PO Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands; University of Twente, Department of Earth Observation Science (EOS), Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), PO Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands.
³ University of Twente, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, PO Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands.
⁴ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Hanzeplein 1, 9700RB Groningen, the Netherlands; University of Twente, Department of Psychology, Health and Technology, Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, PO Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands.
⁵ University of Twente, Department of Earth Observation Science (EOS), Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), PO Box 217, 7500AE Enschede, the Netherlands.
⁶ University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, Hanzeplein 1, 9700RB Groningen, the Netherlands.

PMID: 34998519
DOI: 10.1016/j.artmed.2021.102216

Abstract

Objective: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat to health and healthcare. In response to the growing AMR burden, research funding also increased. However, a comprehensive overview of the research output, including conceptual, temporal, and geographical trends, is missing. Therefore, this study uses topic modelling, a machine learning approach, to reveal the scientific evolution of AMR research and its trends, and provides an interactive user interface for further analyses.

Methods: Structural topic modelling (STM) was applied on a text corpus resulting from a PubMed query comprising AMR articles (1999-2018). A topic network was established and topic trends were analysed by frequency, proportion, and importance over time and space.

Results: In total, 88 topics were identified in 158,616 articles from 166 countries. AMR publications increased by 450% between 1999 and 2018, emphasizing the vibrancy of the field. Prominent topics in 2018 were Strategies for emerging resistances and diseases, Nanoparticles, and Stewardship. Emerging topics included Water and environment, and Sequencing. Geographical trends showed prominence of Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in the WHO African Region, corresponding with the MDR-TB burden. China and India were growing contributors in recent years, following the United States of America as overall lead contributor.

Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the AMR research output thereby revealing the AMR research response to the increased AMR burden. Both the results and the publicly available interactive database serve as a base to inform and optimise future research.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Geographic mapping; Global health; Machine learning; Research activity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents* / therapeutic use
China
Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
India

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents