A research team from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has won the Arab Award for Research in Healthcare ’ from the Hamdan Bin Rashid al-Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences, for their groundbreaking study, ‘Transition to Oral Antibiotics in Gram-Negative Bacteremia Cases.
The honour, a part of the Hamdan Medical Awards 2024, recognised excellence in medical research and innovation across the Arab world and the UAE. The randomised, open clinical trial was conducted by a dedicated team of infectious disease specialists and researchers from HMC in collaboration with Kuwait University and Istanbul Medipol University.
The study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of transitioning from intravenous (IV) to oral antimicrobial therapy in patients with Enterobacterales bacteremia after completing 3-5 days of microbiologically active IV therapy. The findings contribute significantly to optimising antimicrobial stewardship and improving patient outcomes.
Dr Muna al-Maslamani, medical director of HMC’s Communicable Disease Centre and Hamad General Hospital, and one of the lead researchers, said: "This recognition is an honour for our entire team, and it underscores the importance of collaborative research in advancing patient care. Our study highlights the potential to improve clinical outcomes while ensuring thoughtful use of antimicrobial therapy.”
The award-winning research team members included: Dr Ali Omrani, senior consultant, Infectious Disease; Dr Yasser El Deeb, senior consultant, Infectious Disease; Dr Mossad al-Sammawi, senior consultant, Infectious Disease; Dr Adila Shwakat, senior consultant, Infectious Disease; Dr Fatma Bin Abid, consultant, Infectious Disease; Dr Suliman Abu Jarir, consultant, Infectious Disease; Dr Ahmed Zaqout, consultant, Infectious Disease; Dr Shahad Shaar, clinical pharmacist, Infectious Disease; Dr Mohamed Salem al-Gara, resident, Medicine Department; Dr Khalid M Shunnar, resident, Medicine Department; Dr Mohammad Elmabrok, resident, Medicine Department; and Dr Mohamed Islam Alghazzawi, resident, Medicine Department.
Dr Muna al-Maslamani with the award.
