Established in 2016, the AR Lab Network continues to bridge the gap between local capabilities and the data needed to inform responses to AR in the United States. The Wadsworth Center serves as the Northeast Regional Laboratory. Organized in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), the meeting fostered meaningful discussion around shared challenges and collaborative solutions in antimicrobial resistance detection, surveillance, and response.
The Wadsworth Center’s Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratories brought together laboratorians and epidemiologists from across the Northeast for the Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Lab Network Regional Laboratory and Epidemiology Meeting. Participants represented eight jurisdictions—Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York City, New York State, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Vermont—alongside colleagues from APHL and CDC.
The conference commenced with programmatic updates from the CDC’s ARX, followed by presentations from the Wadsworth Center AR Laboratories. State representatives led guided discussions on topics such as: colonization screening for AR pathogens, data utilization, advancements in antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and strategies to streamline laboratory infrastructure to avoid duplicative testing. Ann Valley, from the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, attended to discuss a cross-regional perspective on testing and surveillance of drug-resistant organisms in the Midwest.
The two-day meeting concluded with an interactive workshop, facilitated by Goodman Institute Director Kirsten Farrell, which aimed to help scientists transform their lived experiences into narratives that advocate for public health policy.
The Wadsworth Center’s Bacteriology and Mycology Laboratories contributed a joint retrospective on AR pathogen testing over the past two years—celebrating milestones, unpacking ongoing challenges, and setting priorities for the future. We are energized by how far our network has come in improving the testing needs of drug-resistant microorganisms in healthcare settings. Further, we stand committed to our collaborative efforts, understanding that they are essential in reducing the emergence and spread of drug-resistant organisms.