InfeXpect

InfeXpect is an AI-driven surveillance system that detects antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threats by analyzing social media, healthcare records, and environmental data. It provides early detection of AMR trends, tracks resistant bacteria spread, and monitors antibiotic usage patterns to enable targeted interventions and policy implementations.

Nancy Sarakikya is the CEO of InfeXpect, leading the team in developing an AI-driven surveillance system for detecting antimicrobial resistance threats and implementing targeted interventions.

In sub-Saharan Africa, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical public health threat, exacerbated by limited surveillance and data collection. Current estimates suggest that AMR contributes significantly to mortality rates, with over 450,000 deaths annually attributed to drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) alone in the region. The prevalence of drug-resistant infections, particularly in vulnerable populations such as HIV/AIDS patients, poses a significant challenge to healthcare systems.

Limited access to effective antibiotics and poor antibiotic stewardship practices contribute to the rise of AMR. In sub-Saharan Africa, where healthcare infrastructure is often strained, the impact of AMR is particularly severe. The lack of reliable data on antibiotic use and resistance patterns further complicates efforts to address this crisis.

InfeXpect aims to address this problem by providing a data-driven approach to AMR surveillance. By analyzing social media, healthcare records, and environmental data, our solution will provide real-time insights into AMR trends, enabling targeted interventions to improve antibiotic stewardship and combat the spread of resistant infections.

InfeXpect primarily serves healthcare providers, public health officials, and policymakers in sub-Saharan Africa who are grappling with the challenges of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). These stakeholders often lack access to real-time data and insights on AMR trends, making it difficult to implement targeted interventions and policies.

Our solution addresses their needs by providing timely and actionable insights into AMR trends, antibiotic usage patterns, and geographic hotspots of resistance. By leveraging AI and data analytics, InfeXpect empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions and implement effective strategies to combat AMR.

To understand the needs of our target audience, we are actively engaging with healthcare providers, public health officials, and policymakers through surveys, interviews, and workshops. This engagement allows us to gather feedback, identify key challenges, and tailor our solution to meet their specific needs.

InfeXpect provides several public goods in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR):

1. Real-time Surveillance Data: InfeXpect's surveillance system generates real-time data on AMR trends, which can be used by public health officials, policymakers, and researchers to make informed decisions and implement targeted interventions.

2. Open-access Research: InfeXpect is committed to sharing its research findings and methodologies openly, contributing to the global body of knowledge on AMR surveillance and social media analysis.

3. Collaboration Opportunities: InfeXpect offers opportunities for collaboration with public health agencies, social media platforms, and communication experts to enhance AMR surveillance efforts globally.

4. Community Engagement: InfeXpect engages with communities affected by AMR, raising awareness and promoting responsible antibiotic use through social media campaigns and educational initiatives.

InfeXpect's work contributes to the public good by providing valuable data, knowledge, and resources to combat AMR and protect public health globally.

InfeXpect's impact is projected to serve millions of individuals globally, with quantifiable outcomes including:

1. Early Detection and Intervention: By detecting emerging AMR threats early, InfeXpect aims to prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections, potentially saving 100,000 of lives each year.

2. Improved Antibiotic Prescribing: Through targeted interventions informed by InfeXpect's data, healthcare providers can optimize antibiotic prescribing practices, reducing unnecessary antibiotic use by up to 30% according to studies on antibiotic stewardship programs.

3. Public Awareness and Education: InfeXpect's social media campaigns and educational initiatives have the potential to reach millions of individuals, increasing awareness about AMR and promoting responsible antibiotic use, leading to a projected reduction in antibiotic misuse by 20% within targeted communities.

4. Policy Impact: InfeXpect's data-informed policy recommendations have the potential to influence global policy decisions on AMR, leading to more effective strategies and interventions. This impact could extend to hundreds of millions of individuals worldwide through improved public health policies and practices.

Over the next year, InfeXpect plans to scale its impact by:

1. Increasing Coverage: Expand surveillance efforts to monitor online conversations across 10 additional languages, reaching an estimated 2 million additional social media users.

2. Strategic Partnerships: Forge partnerships with 5 leading public health agencies and social media platforms to enhance data collection and analysis capabilities.

3. Community Engagement: Conduct 100 targeted social media campaigns to raise awareness about AMR and promote responsible antibiotic use, reaching over 10 million individuals in sub-Saharan.

Over the next three years, our scaling efforts will include:

1. Global Expansion: Extend surveillance coverage to 50 languages, encompassing over 80% of social media users globally, potentially reaching 100 million individuals.

2. Capacity Building: Train 1,000 public health professionals on utilizing InfeXpect's data analytics platform for AMR surveillance and response.

3. Policy Influence: Collaborate with policymakers to implement evidence-based interventions informed by InfeXpect's data, aiming to reduce antibiotic misuse by 50% in targeted communities.

InfeXpect measures success against its impact goals through several specific, measurable indicators:

1. Surveillance Coverage: Track the number of languages monitored and social media users reached, aiming for 10 additional languages and 2 million more users in the next year.

2. Partnerships: Monitor the number of partnerships established with public health agencies and social media platforms, aiming for 5 new partnerships in the next year.

3. Community Engagement: Measure the reach and engagement of social media campaigns, aiming for 100 campaigns and reaching over 10 million individuals in sub-Saharan Africa in the next year.

4. Global Expansion: Over the next three years, aim to extend surveillance coverage to 50 languages, encompassing over 80% of social media users globally, potentially reaching 100 million individuals.

5. Capacity Building: Track the number of public health professionals trained on utilizing InfeXpect's data analytics platform for AMR surveillance and response, aiming for 1,000 professionals trained over the next three years.

6. Policy Influence: Evaluate the implementation of evidence-based interventions informed by InfeXpect's data, aiming to reduce antibiotic misuse by 50% in targeted communities.

Several barriers may hinder the accomplishment of our goals:

1. Financial Constraints: Limited funding may restrict our ability to expand surveillance efforts, forge partnerships, and conduct targeted campaigns. To overcome this, we will pursue additional grant funding, seek strategic investors, and explore revenue-generating opportunities such as consulting services.

2. Technical Challenges: Scaling surveillance coverage and data analytics capabilities require advanced technical expertise and infrastructure. We plan to invest in technology upgrades, recruit skilled professionals, and collaborate with tech partners to address these challenges.

3. Policy and Regulatory Hurdles: Navigating complex regulatory environments and obtaining permissions for data collection and analysis can pose obstacles. We will engage with local authorities, advocate for supportive policies, and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.

4. Cultural and Language Differences: Adapting communication strategies to diverse cultural contexts and languages is crucial for effective engagement. We will invest in cultural sensitivity training, employ local language experts, and leverage community partnerships for meaningful outreach.

By proactively addressing these barriers and leveraging available resources effectively, we aim to overcome challenges and achieve our goals in the next year and beyond.

We are applying to The Trinity Challenge because it offers a unique platform to leverage our AI-driven solution, InfeXpect, to address the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Challenge's emphasis on innovation, integration, and implementation aligns closely with our approach to tackling AMR through advanced data analytics and social media surveillance.

One barrier we face is the need for expanded surveillance coverage and strategic partnerships to enhance our data collection and analysis capabilities. The Trinity Challenge can help us overcome this barrier by providing access to a network of leading public health agencies, social media platforms, and experts in the field, enabling us to forge crucial partnerships and access valuable data sources.

Additionally, The Trinity Challenge's focus on scaling impact aligns with our goal of reaching millions of individuals globally. Through The Trinity Challenge, we can access resources, expertise, and funding opportunities that will support our efforts to scale InfeXpect's impact and drive meaningful change in the fight against AMR.

We aim to collaborate with organizations at the forefront of public health and technology to enhance our solution's impact. Collaborating with the World Health Organization (WHO) would provide us with access to global health expertise and networks, enabling us to align our efforts with international AMR strategies. Partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would offer technical guidance and access to valuable data for refining our surveillance algorithms. Engagement with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) would facilitate our expansion in sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring that our solution meets the region's specific needs.

In addition, collaborating with social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram would enable us to leverage their vast user bases and data resources for more comprehensive surveillance. These partnerships would allow us to access real-time data and analytics, enhancing our ability to detect early signs of AMR threats and disseminate targeted public health messages. Overall, these collaborations are essential for accelerating the adoption and impact of our solution in combating AMR globally.