Posted 18/09/2019. A protocol for carrying out a systematic rapid research needs appraisal of existing evidence within five days, to rapidly inform clinical research prioritize in response to emerging outbreaks globally. This protocol was developed and successfully piloted by Louise Sigfrid and colleagues using a fictitious Lassa fever outbreak scenario. The protocol is optimized by effective use of global time-zones.

Posted 06/09/2019. A formal causal inference-based analysis of clinical and laboratory data from 9000+ severe falciparum malaria patients from Africa and Asia by James Watson and colleagues suggests that moderate anaemia may be protective against death in severe malaria. The severe anaemia threshold criteria for a definition of severe falciparum malaria should be reconsidered.

Posted 03/09/2019. Estimating the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is essential for resource allocation and to inform AMR action plans at national and global levels. Direk Limmathurotsakul and colleagues discuss the underlying assumptions, characteristics, limitations, and comparability of the approaches used to quantify mortality from AMR bacterial infections. We define key actions required and call for innovative thinking and solutions to address these problems.