Govt lab named regional superbug watchdog

Barbados' Best dos Santos Public Health Laboratory (BDSPHL) has been officially designated a PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance as of June 17, 2026, marking a pivotal moment in the Caribbean's fight against drug-resistant infections. This designation elevates Barbados to a leading regional role, equipping the island to detect and respond to 'superbug' threats earlier, crucial for a population grappling with declining demographics and high rates of non-communicable diseases. The move underscores years of strategic investment and international collaboration aimed at fortifying public health infrastructure across the Eastern Caribbean. This development arrives as the Caribbean confronts a growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis, characterized by inadequate diagnostic infrastructure, inconsistent access to reagents, and fragmented surveillance data. The BDSPHL transformation into a regional hub, bolstered by significant support from initiatives like the UK Government's Fleming Fund, has seen enhanced microbiology capacity, standardized testing, and the adoption of advanced tools such as molecular diagnostics and genomic surveillance. This aligns with broader regional efforts, including PAHO ReLAVRA+ network and a partnership with GARDP, both focused on accelerating the characterization of highly resistant organisms like carbapenem-resistant bacteria. Looking ahead, the BDSPHL will serve as a cornerstone for regional training and quality assurance, aiming to integrate more robust data into global surveillance systems like GLASS. This strategic positioning is vital for guiding clinical practices, informing national policies, and contributing to the Americas' regional AMR roadmap for 2026–2030, currently in its drafting phase following a high-level meeting in Brasília. The emphasis remains on a multisectoral 'One Health' approach to mitigate resistance spread across human, animal, and environmental health, ensuring a coordinated, data-driven defense against future infectious threats.