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The Institute of Applied Health Sciences

UK Antimicrobial Registry (UKAR)

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UK Antimicrobial Registry (UKAR)

UK Antimicrobial Registry logo
Duration: From 01 November 2021
Funder: British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Chief investigators: Professor Gary Macfarlane , Professor Gareth Jones
Other co-investigators: Dr Callum Kaye (NHS Grampian), Dr Noha El Sakka (NHS Grampian)
Study coordinators: Rebecca Parr , Jisha Babu
Project assistant: Jay Woods

Effective antimicrobial agents are a crucial component of modern medicine allowing the elimination or inhibition of growth of all microorganisms. However, their effectiveness is threatened by evolutionary development of certain microbes. According to the WHO, antimicrobial resistance is increasing world-wide, and compromising our ability to treat infectious diseases and undermining many other advances in health and medicine. The purpose of the UKAR is to answer a broad set of research questions around novel anti-microbial agents. It will allow us to describe the use of such novel agents throughout the UK and to quantify the clinical outcomes and safety profile associated with their use in a real world setting.

Enquiries about the study can be emailed to ukar@abdn.ac.uk .

You can find out more about the registry, including the latest study news, at the BSAC study webpages .

Expression of Interest

If you are a clinician who is interested in antimicrobial resistance, please complete the UKAR Study Expression of Interest form below. You can also access the form from this link.

Participating hospital sites

News

Social Media Posts


🎉👏 Huge congrats to the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust team for reaching 100 participants in the #UKARStudy! Funded by BSAC & supported by Pfizer, Menarini & Shionogi — driving progress in tackling antimicrobial resistance & improving patient care. 💙🌍 #NHSResearch #BSAC #UKAR

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) 6 October 2025 at 15:55

📢STUDY UPDATE; 12-month extension to UKAR 🗓️ The #UKARStudy team are delighted to announce that the @nihr.bsky.social-supported UK Antimicrobial Registry has extended #Participant #recruitment to May 2027. Get involved in the @bsacandjac.bsky.social-funded #AMR study TODAY ➡️ tinyurl.com/4j7vs5tv

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) August 26, 2025 at 10:14 AM
 

The #UKAR team is lucky to work with some outstanding Principal Investigators across the UK! 🌟 Ceri Phillips, Consultant Antimicrobial Pharmacist & NICE panel member, leads the #UKARStudy team at Aneurin Bevan UHB. Here's why she got involved ⬇️ 🔗 www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) 3 July 2025 at 17:08

Great to see our #Epidemiology Group represented at May’s @bsacandjac.bsky.social Spring Conference! 👉Dr Rebecca Parr & Jisha Babu joined #UKAR Chief Investigators Profs Macfarlane & Jones to share insights from the #UKARStudy #AMR #AntimicrobialResistance #AMS www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) 2 July 2025 at 12:54

“Antimicrobial resistance has not gone away.” – Prof Andrew Seaton, BSAC President @bsacandjac.bsky.social The recent #BSAC Spring Conference brought the #AMR community together to tackle these urgent challenges. 📽️ Highlights: www.linkedin.com/feed/update/...

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) 1 July 2025 at 15:11

👏 100 Participants and Counting!👏 @nhsgrampian.bsky.social & University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust have both recruiting 100 participants into the UK Antimicrobial Registry #UKARStudy — a significant achievement in our shared mission to tackle antimicrobial resistance 🦠🚫 ✨Huge thanks 🙏

— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) 20 June 2025 at 09:37

🩺Celebrating our #UKAR Research Nurses – not just on #InternationalNursesDay, but every day💙 In clinical research, they are the bridge between protocols & patients—bringing empathy, precision & dedication to every step. 🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/epidem... @nhsgrampian.bsky.social #ClinicalResearch

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) 28 May 2025 at 15:07

📢Calling all #DataAnalysts and #ResearchFellows. The #UKARStudy team are #hiring! Use your #StatisticalAnalysis and #MathematicalModel know-how to assess #antimicrobialresistance as part of the @bsacandjac.bsky.social UK Antimicrobial Registry www.abdnjobs.co.uk/vacancy/rese... CLOSING 30-Apr-2025 🏃‍♀️

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) April 24, 2025 at 10:49 AM

🦠 We’re hiring! Join the fight against #antimicrobial #resistance with the UK Antimicrobial Registry #UKAR at @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social 🔬🧬 We're looking for a Research Fellow (Analyst) with experience in large-scale epidemiological data 📊💻 #AMR #ResearchJobs #Epidemiology #PublicHealth #Vacancy

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) April 15, 2025 at 2:42 PM

🌍 The #UKAR Study is now open at 51 hospital sites across the UK — including #England, #Scotland, #Wales, #NorthernIreland, and even an island off England’s south coast! 🏝️🏥🧪 Huge thanks to all #NHS teams & research partners making this possible! 💙 #AMR #HealthResearch #ClinicalResearch

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) March 24, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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The #UKAR has added: ✔ Aztreonam/avibactam #Emblaveo ✔ Cefepime/enmetazobactam #Exblifep Now tracking 13 antibiotics to assess real-world safety 🦺 & effectiveness 👍 in patients with resistant infections 🔗 www.abdn.ac.uk/iahs/academi... ✉️ ukar@abdn.ac.uk #AMR #Antibiotics #Research

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 9:33 AM

📣 New #antibiotics added to the UK Antimicrobial Registry #UKAR! 💊🦠 In collaboration with @bsacandjac.bsky.social, #UKAR collects real-world data on drugs targeting #superbugs — #bacteria #resistant to antibiotics 🧫 😷 #AMR causes over 1.27 million deaths globally each year and is a growing threat

— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 9:33 AM

🎉The #UKARStudy is delighted to open our 50th hospital site for recruitment of consenting participants to the @bsacandjac.bsky.social collaboration. @frimleyhealth.bsky.social Wexham Park site are now part of the study looking into #antimicrobialresistance #AMR #getinvolvedinresearch #tackleAMR

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) February 7, 2025 at 12:10 PM

🚨Great article from @bsacandjac.bsky.social about the progress of the @uniofaberdeen.bsky.social UK Antimicrobial Registry (UKAR) Study. The #UKARStudy team work with hospitals and patients across the UK to collect data on antibiotics used for #antimicrobialresistance 🦠 bsac.org.uk/uk-antimicro...

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) February 3, 2025 at 9:46 AM

The #UKARStudy team are delighted that Dr Noha El Sakka @nhsgrampian.bsky.social and fellow delegates at the Westminster Health Forum Policy Conference included the @bsacandjac.bsky.social collaboration in their approach to tackling #antimicrobialresistance #AMR Learn more here: tinyurl.com/yhk7mt5p

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— Epidemiology Group, University of Aberdeen (@uoaepi.bsky.social) January 31, 2025 at 2:34 PM
 
 

 

January 2025 Study Update - Looking back at 2024!

We thought we would have a look back over 2024 and bring you some highlights.

At the end of 2023 we had 16 sites open to participant recruitment, but by December 2024, we had added another 31 sites, taking us to 47 sites across the UK. A massive thank you to each and every one of you for helping us collect data about the effectiveness of vital antimicrobial drugs.

As to the number of participants in the study, we have gone from 101 at the beginning of January 2024, to 628 participants on 20th December 2024. That’s a fantastic achievement, so once again, thank you all so much.

And now to the numbers, our Top Ten Recruiting Centres by the end of 2024 were found in 3 of the 4 nations, with a very strong base in the English Midlands, with strong representation from Scotland and Wales:

Recruiting Centre

Number of participants

NHS Grampian

101

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

68

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

60

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

46

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

30

Imperial College

30

Manchester University NHS Hospital Trust

29

Kettering General Hospital

24

Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

20

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

19
Sites who have reached their target.

Many thanks to the team at Nottingham for reaching your recruitment target and also to those sites who have reached and exceeded their recruitment target; Aberdeen, Aneurin Bevan, Imperial College, Papworth and Portsmouth. We’re very grateful to all of you who are able to go above and beyond.

September 2024 Study Updates

Happy September everyone! I hope you all had a great summer.

Ringing the changes!

Our wonderful Study Coordinator, Laura Moir, has now left the UKAR to work on another clinical study. Laura's enthusiasm was infectious, and her experience and dedication will be sorely missed. Laura did pass on her wealth of knowledge to me and Jay during her time setting up and running the study, ensuring that the registry will continue to strive to meet the aims - understanding the effectiveness and safety of recently licensed antimicrobials used to treat real-world patients.

We are delighted to have Jisha Babu join us as Assistant Study Coordinator. Jisha has been managing the Epidemiology Group for nearly 3 years, organising us all and keeping us on track. We are looking forward to harnessing her fantastic coordination skills and her eternal optimism.

Read all about it.

The UKAR is once again in print! Please direct all interested participants and colleagues to the JAC-AMR introduction to the UKAR: Introducing the UK Antimicrobial Registry (UKAR) study: providing real world data on new antimicrobials to support antimicrobial stewardship and tackle antimicrobial resistance | JAC-Antimicrobial Resistance | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

Thank you!

Thank you for your continued support of the UKAR study, your involvement is crucial in gathering data that will hopefully contribute to combating antimicrobial resistance, a global health challenge.

Please get in touch with any queries.

Rebecca, Jay and Jisha

UKAR Coordination Team

 

Articles

06-Aug-2024: Introducing the UK Antimicrobial Registry (UKAR) study: providing real world data on new antimicrobials to support antimicrobial stewardship and tackle antimicrobial resistance

29-May-2024: There's still time to get involved in this important AMR research

01-Feb-2024: UKAR: The secrets of successful study site

01-Jan-2024: P15 UK Antimicrobial Registry Study: progress to date

22-Aug-2023: The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (BSAC) is collaborating with the University of Aberdeen Epidemiology Group to develop the first UK Antimicrobial Registry (UKAR) to provide information about the safety and efficacy of new antimicrobials in real-world use.

30-May-2023: The University of Aberdeen Epidemiology Group is collaborating with BSAC to develop the first UK Antimicrobial Registry (UKAR). The UKAR Study team is delighted to announce that NHS Grampian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde are open for recruitment of participants to the UK Antimicrobial Registry.

28-Apr-2023: University of Aberdeen scientists fight back against global public health emergency

18-Apr-2023: Aberdeen University researchers are collaborating with BSAC to create the first UK Antimicrobial Registry (UKAR)

Why is this research important?

Antibiotics are a vital part of modern medicine as they stop the growth of bacteria that cause infection. The UKAR Study will help us look how widely these medicines are used across the UK, why they are being prescribed, and how effective they are.

Bacteria are becoming resistant to treatment with commonly used antibiotics. This means that it is becoming difficult to successfully treat some bacterial infections. It is estimated that, worldwide, deaths due to antimicrobial resistance are on the same scale as deaths due to major diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria (Lancet, 2022: Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis ).

Links to Resources about AMR / antibiotics:

(206) The Evolution of Bacteria on a “Mega-Plate” Petri Dish (Kishony Lab) - YouTube

Antimicrobial resistance (who.int)

Stewardship & Surveillance - The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (bsac.org.uk)

What will this research involve?

We will ask that patients give us their consent to allow us access to their medical records and allow us to collect clinical data from their notes. No further participation is required, as the study does not include any participant surveys or questionnaires.

Clinical data will be collected during treatment with the antibiotics included in the study, and then at 28 days, 6 months, and 12 months afterwards. We will collect information about the infections that the antibiotics are being used to treat, why these antibiotics were chosen and how effective they are at treating the infection.

The antibiotics included in the study are listed below:

Gram Negative Agents Gram Positive Agents
Aztreonam/avibactam Ceftaroline
Cefepime/enmetazobactam Ceftobiprole
Cefiderocol Dalbavancin
Ceftazidime/avibactam Delafloxacin
Ceftolozane/tazobactam Oritavancin
Eravacycline  
Imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam  
Meropenem/vaborbactam  

 

All of the information that we collect will be analysed so that we can better understand how effective the antibiotics are at treating infections and tackling antimicrobial resistance. Participants will not be identifiable in any of the findings published from this research.

UKAR Site Flyer

UKAR study site flier - 13 drugs

Who can take part in the study?

To be included in the UKAR Study, a patient must be 18 years old or older, and have been prescribed one of the 13 study antibiotics during their current stay in a participating hospital:

Gram Negative Agents Gram Positive Agents
Aztreonam/avibactam Ceftaroline
Cefepime/enmetazobactam Ceftobiprole
Cefiderocol Dalbavancin
Ceftazidime/avibactam Delafloxacin
Ceftolozane/tazobactam Oritavancin
Eravacycline  
Imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam  
Meropenem/vaborbactam  

 

The drug must have been prescribed within the last 60 days and the patient must have been treated with the drug for at least 24 hours.

As we are collecting health information, the study will ask for informed consent from patients. If a patient does not have the capacity to consent for themselves, an appropriate person will be asked to act on behalf of the patient.

If you have any questions about who can take part in the study, please email the UKAR Study team: ukar@abdn.ac.uk

How will the research benefit patients and society?

Being part of the UKAR Study does not affect the treatment that a patient receives. Therefore, individual patients do not directly benefit from participating in the study. However, the UKAR Study will provide important information about the study drugs. The study will help us see how often these drugs are used across the UK, and to look at how safe and effective they are. Lessons learnt from the registry will help doctors across the country decide how best to treat patients in the future.

FAQs

What is required of a participant in the UKAR Study?

We will ask the patient to give their consent for us to access their hospital notes. We will not ask anything further from the patient, as there are no participant surveys or questionnaires.

How will my information be used?

No personal or identifiable information about participants in the UKAR Study will be available to anyone outside of the UKAR Study team. Personal, identifiable information will be removed from the data before it is analysed.

Which drugs are included in the UKAR Study?

Gram Negative Agents Gram Positive Agents
Aztreonam/avibactam Ceftaroline
Cefepime/enmetazobactam Ceftobiprole
Cefiderocol Dalbavancin
Ceftazidime/avibactam Delafloxacin
Ceftolozane/tazobactam Oritavancin
Eravacycline  
Imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam  
Meropenem/vaborbactam  

How many participants does a site need to recruit?

A site will need to recruit a minimum of 20 patients over the course of the study, which is expected to be recruiting participants through to May 2026

How does my site become involved in the study?

To get involved in the UKAR Study, please complete the UKAR Expression of Interest (EOI) form below or via this link.

What are the requirements of my site?

  • Prescription of the any of the antibiotics included in the study.
  • A way to identify patients who are prescribed antibiotics included in the study.
  • Someone able to receive informed consent from participants.
  • A Principal Investigator to take responsibility for running the UKAR Study at site.

The UKAR Study is registered with the NIHR Associate PI scheme - Associate Principal Investigator Scheme

Fran Garraghan, member of BSAC and former UKAR Study Principal Investigator at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust has made this video about setting up the study at site.

How can I get involved?

If you are interested to learn more about the UKAR Study, please complete our Expression of Interest (EOI) form below, or contact the team at ukar@abdn.ac.uk. You can also access the form from this link.

 

Study team

The team responsible for delivering the study

Professor Gary Macfarlane - Chief investigator - UKAR Virtual Registry

Professor Gareth Jones - Chief Investigator - UKAR Hospital Registry

Dr Rebecca Parr - Study Coordinator

Ms Jisha Babu - Assistant Study Coordinator

Mr Jay Woods - Project Assistant

Special thanks for the hard work of all previously involved with the UKAR study

Mrs Laura Moir - Study Coordinator

Dr Lili Xu - Data Analyst

Dr Marcus Beasley - Interim Study Coordinator

Recruitment Centres

You can download a full list of our contributors here: UKAR Contributor List

Who is funding this study?

The UKAR Study is funded by The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

To find out more visit Home - UK Antimicrobial Registry (bsac-ukar.org)

What we have found so far

Articles

You can view the main articles for the UKAR study here.

Introducing the UK Antimicrobial Registry (UKAR) study: providing real world data on new antimicrobials to support antimicrobial stewardship and tackle antimicrobial resistance

 

P15 UK Antimicrobial Registry Study: progress to date

UKAR Poster - BSAC 2025 Winter Conference (27th to 28th October)

Download Link: UKAR BSAC Winter Conference 2025 Poster

UKAR BSAC Winter Conference 2025 Poster w700

UKAR Poster - BSAC 2025 Spring Conference (14th to 15th May)

Download Link: UKAR BSAC Spring Conference 2025 Poster

UKAR BSAC Spring Conference 2025

UKAR Poster - BSAC 2024 Winter Conference (4th to 5th December)

Download Link: UKAR BSAC Winter Conference Poster 2024

UKAR BSAC Winter Conference 2024

UKAR Poster - BSAC 2024 Spring Conference (16th to 17th May)

Download Link: UKARposterBSACSC_08-Apr-2024.pptx

UKAR poster

UKAR Poster - BSAC 2023 Winter Conference (30th November to 1st December)

Download Link: UKARposterBSACWC_27-Nov-2023.pptx

UKAR poster
Patient Stories

If you are a patient involved in the UKAR study and would like to share your experiences, please complete the short questionnaire by clicking on this link.

You can also contact us at ukar@abdn.ac.uk

Contact details

If you are interested to learn more about the UKAR Study, please contact the team; ukar@abdn.ac.uk

Glossary

Chemotherapy - The use of chemicals (drugs) as therapy (treatment) against disease.

Microbe - a microorganism (such as bacteria) that can only be seen using a microscope.

Antimicrobial - Something (a drug) that works against microbes (such as bacteria).

Antimicrobial resistance - Microbes (such as bacteria) that have developed the ability to survive treatment with antimicrobial drugs (such as antibiotics).