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News | Nov. 19, 2025

WRAIR-EME conducts multidrug-resistant organism surveillance on Ukraine’s front lines

For 2 years, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research-Europe—Middle East has collaborated with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense to identify and analyze the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, commonly called MDROs, on the front lines of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
 
MDROs are microorganisms, mostly bacteria, which have evolved to become resistant to some of the medicines, such as antibiotics, used to treat infections. Infections caused by MDROs are challenging to treat and can lead to serious complications include inability to return to service, long-lasting health problems, and even death.
 
“We’ve seen these nasty bugs coming out of Europe and especially Ukraine,” said Maj. Thomas Musich, science director and program manager at WRAIR-EME. “The Ukrainian Minister of Defense requested aid, so now we are getting bacterial wound samples from soldiers injured at the forward edge of the battle area that allow us to answer the question: what MDROs are a threat and where are they?”

Read more on DVIDS here