IC2AR 2017

Oral Contributors

Contributors and their affiliations as listed for the 2017 scientific program.

The oral contributions programme of the 2nd International Caparica Conference in Antibiotic Resistance brought together researchers from a wide range of countries and institutions, each presenting work on the forces shaping antimicrobial resistance. Presenters addressed the clinical and agricultural drivers of resistance emergence, including antibiotic use in human medicine, veterinary practice, and food production systems, and discussed how resistant bacteria and resistance genes move between human and animal populations.

Several contributions focused on the mechanisms underlying resistance, exploring how pathogens acquire and spread resistance determinants and how this knowledge can be applied to surveillance and diagnostic strategies. Other sessions considered the epidemiological dimensions of the problem, including transmission patterns across hospitals and communities, the influence of movement and migration on the spread of resistant strains, and the contribution of environmental sources to the widening pool of resistant organisms.

Speakers also examined the broader scientific pipeline, from drug discovery and the development of novel antimicrobial agents to the use of proteomic approaches in understanding bacterial behaviour and resistance phenotypes. The conference emphasised collaboration between clinicians, microbiologists, veterinarians and public health authorities, and highlighted how shared surveillance data and coordinated national policies can slow the worldwide emergence of resistance and reduce the burden of resistant infections.

The conference served as a platform for exchanging results, debating methodological approaches, and identifying research priorities, with contributions spanning laboratory investigation, clinical observation and population-level analysis. Discussions touched on the responsible use of antibiotics, the role of regulation and stewardship programmes, and the need for sustained funding of research, so that practical strategies to overcome resistance can be implemented in health systems worldwide.

Organised around plenary sessions, invited and contributed oral presentations, and poster communication, the scientific programme allowed detailed exploration of resistance in both human and veterinary contexts. The meeting aimed to stimulate new approaches and partnerships, giving participants an opportunity to present findings, receive critical feedback, and build networks with colleagues working across microbiology, epidemiology, and public health.