Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as a significant global public health threat, contributing to increased mortality and imposing a considerable social and economic burden.
Ahmad Al-Mustapha will defend his doctoral thesis titled "Wastewater Surveillance: An Early Warning Tool For Multidrug-resistant Bacterial Pathogens” on 27th February 2026 in the University of Helsinki. The thesis is based on three studies investigating the genomic epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL/AmpC)-producing Escherichia coli, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE). These pathogens are included in the World Health Organization's 2024 priority pathogen list. Al-Mustapha's findings reveal that wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) can serve as an early warning system for monitoring these clinically relevant AMR pathogens.
This dissertation emphasizes the interconnectedness of AMR across human, animal, and environmental health, highlighting the need for a One Health approach to effectively manage this issue. Al-Mustapha's research focuses on WBS as a proactive public health tool that can identify multidrug-resistant pathogens before they pose a significant threat to the population.
Results indicated a lower prevalence of MRSA and VRE in wastewater samples, with significant seasonal variations and a high abundance of AmpC/ESBL-producing E. coli. Furthermore, his research shows that VRE-isolates from wastewater closely resemble those found in human clinical settings, reinforcing the potential of WBS for population-level surveillance.
Al-Mustapha's work contributes to the One Health approach by providing critical insights into the transmission dynamics of AMR bacteria. His research supports the establishment of interconnected wastewater surveillance networks and unified diagnostic methods, fostering a proactive and resilient global health system. This dissertation defense represents a significant step in advancing our understanding of AMR and the role of wastewater surveillance in public health.
Ahmad Al-Mustapha will defend his doctoral thesis titled "Wastewater Surveillance: An Early Warning Tool For Multidrug-resistant Bacterial Pathogens" next Friday, February 27, at 12 noon. The defense will take place in Walter Hall, Building EE, Agnes Sjöbergin katu 2, at the Viikki campus. The opponent for this thesis will be Professor Jakob Zinsstag from the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (University of Basel, Switzerland), while Assoc. Prof. Annamari Heikinheimo will serve as the custos. The dissertation defence may also be followed remotely via