Get the newest knowledge on antimicrobial resistance

Food and health professionals can now access an updated version of a popular Coursera course that provides the newest knowledge on antimicrobial resistance. The course is designed by a team of experts from DTU, the Technical University of Denmark, actively involved in global antimicrobial resistance monitoring.

After seven years, the Coursera course, titled “Antimicrobial Resistance – Theory & Methods,” has been updated with the newest knowledge in this field. The content draws from interdisciplinary experts within the Research Group for Global Capacity Building at DTU National Food Institute. This group works daily to enhance global antimicrobial resistance surveillance.

“We are in a pandemic caused by the global spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. With the updated Coursera course, we equip participants with knowledge and essential tools to actively contribute to global efforts in combating antimicrobial resistance,” says Professor René Hendriksen, leader of the DTU National Food Institute research group.

The course takes a One Health approach, addressing health aspects related to humans, animals, the environment, and food. It is relevant for professionals across various fields, including food, health, biology, laboratory testing, veterinary medicine, and students within these areas worldwide.

Enrolling in one or more course modules is free when creating a profile on Coursera. Participants can also choose to explore the entire course in-depth. For those completing the full course and seeking certification, there is a 50 USD fee.

Learning from global capacities in antimicrobial resistance
The initial modules cover bacterial resistance, its spread, and antibiotic use. Subsequent modules delve deeper into resistance testing methods and identifying critical forms of resistance.
As a new addition to the updated course, starting from July 2024, participants can take a module on antimicrobial resistance monitoring. This module will explore the importance of surveillance, existing global monitoring structures, and the necessary steps to establish effective antimicrobial resistance surveillance. Experts from organizations such as WHO, FAO, the US FDA, and Denmark’s antimicrobial resistance monitoring programme (DANMAP) are teaching.

The course draws insights from antimicrobial surveillance efforts in Asia
The new edition of the Coursera course is partly based on the EQAsia project, led by the DTU National Food Institute, which has established structures for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in Asia through education and quality validation of 50 laboratories that analyze samples from local populations. Researchers are now working in the recently launched Phase II of the project to expand laboratory capacity to 80, and there is also a strong focus on disseminating the knowledge that can be extracted from the data now being generated by the monitoring. The course aims to ensure that everyone has access to the most essential knowledge and the latest methods to detect antimicrobial resistance.

Panresistance Fact:
DTU National Food Institute plays a central role in global antimicrobial resistance surveillance. The Coursera course aims to share knowledge and contribute to combating the pandemic of antibiotic resistance, particularly in developing countries. Some bacteria currently transition from being multiresistant to pan-resistant, meaning they resist treatment with all available antibiotics.

Course Details

• There are no entry restrictions for the course, which consists of a series of video lessons
• 64,000 have so far enrolled in the course
• 40,000 have viewed some of the course modules
• 14,000 have received a certificate from the course
• Many participants come from low- and middle-income countries with limited access to this type of knowledge and training
• Most participants are students or professionals
• The course is rated 4.7 out of 5 by participants

How to enrol the course
For more information and to enrol in the course Antimicrobial Resistance – Theory & Methods – Fighting Antimicrobial Resistance – Theory, Methods for Diagnostics and Global Surveillance.
The Coursera course is funded by The Fleming Fund via the EQAsia project and the EU Reference Laboratory for antimicrobial resistance (EURL-AR).