Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to withstand the effects of medications that were once effective against them. This growing global threat compromises the treatment of common infections, leading to prolonged illness, increased healthcare costs, and higher mortality rates. Addressing AMR requires coordinated efforts in surveillance, responsible use of antimicrobials, infection prevention, and ongoing research to develop new diagnostic tools and treatment strategies
Abstracts
Wickramasinghe ,S.S , Wijayaratne, G.B, Bodinayake, C.K , Weerasinghe, S, Thabrew, H, Dharmaratne, G.S.K., Priyarangani, P, Priyanthi, D, Devakanthan,B, Francis, V.R, Ranasinghe, T, Patabendige ,G, Kothalawala, M, Abeywardena, M, Abeykoon, M, Ramachandran,R, Suganthan,N., Wickramasuriya, U, Obale A., Ramanayake S. , Ubeysekara H., Kurukulasooriya R., Anderson,D., Woods, C.W., Tillekeratne,L. G., Nagahawatte,A.D.S. (2025) National Point-Prevalence Survey of Antibacterial Use in Public Hospitalsin Sri Lanka: Findings & Implications. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). See more..
Muro, F.J., Lyamuya, F.S., Kwobah, C., Bollinger, J., Bodinayake, C.K., Nagahawatte, A., Piyasiri, B., Kurukulasooriya, R., Ali, S., Mallya, R., Rolfe, R., Ruwanpathirana, A., Sheng, T., Østbye, T., Drew, R., Kussin, P., Woods, C.W., Anderson, D.J., Mmbaga, B.T. and Tillekeratne, L.G. (2022). Opportunities for Improving Antimicrobial Stewardship: Findings From a Prospective, Multi-Center Study in Three Low- or Middle-Income Countries. Frontiers in Public Health, [online] doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.848802. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Meredith, H.R., Kularatna, S., Nagaro, K., Nagahawatte, A., Bodinayake, C., Wijesingha, N., Piyasiri, B., Hammouda, A., Wiegmann, B., Nicholson, B.P., Joyce, M., Woods, C.W., Thakur, S. and Tillekeratne, L.G. (2018). High colonization prevalence in peripartum women and their neonates in southern Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists Annual Sessions.
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Piyasiri, B., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Tillekeratne, L.G., Bodinayake, C.K., Silva, A.D.D., Nicholson, B.P., Østbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatte, A.D.S. (2020). High prevalence of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in patients infected with Staphylococcus aureus at a tertiary care centre. Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists Bulletin, 18(1), pp.19–20.
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Tillekeratne, L.G., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Bodinayake, C.K., Rajapakshe, M.D., Umesha, B.G.J., Silva, A.D.D., Nicholson, B.P., Østbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatte, A.D.S. (2017). Characterization of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the patients admitted to Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya. 76th Annual Academic Sessions of the Galle Medical Association. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Tillekeratne, L.G., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Bodinayake, C.K., Rajapakshe, M.D., Umesha, B.G.J., Silva, A.D.D., Nicholson, B.P., Østbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatte, A.D.S. (2017). Prevalence and characterization of the colonizing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from the patients admitted to Surgical, Medical and Orthopaedic units of Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya. 01st National Health Research Symposium. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Tillekeratne, L.G., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Bodinayake, C.K., Silva, A.D.D., Nicholson, B.P., Ostbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatte, A.D.S. (2018). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: prevalence of and risk factors associated with colonization of patients on admission to the Teaching hospital, Karapitiya. Journal of the University of Ruhuna, 6(2), pp.70–75. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Wijayaratne, M.D.G.B., Tillekeratne, L.G., Bodinayake, C.K., Piyasiri, B., Abeywamaarachchi, D.P., Silva, A.D.D., Nicholson, B.P., Ostbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatta, A.D.S. (2022). Microbiological and molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in clinical cultures collected from two tertiary care hospitals in southern Sri Lanka. 19th Academic Sessions, University of Ruhuna. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.B., Tillekeratne, L.G., Bodinayake, C.K., Silva, A.D.D., Nicholson, B.P., Ostbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatte, A.D.S. (2021). Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus in humans, animals and livestock products in southern Sri Lanka. Faculty of Medicine Sessions, University of Ruhuna. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, R., Piyasiri, B., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Tillekeratne, G., Bodinayake, C., Silva, A.D., Nicholson, B., Østbye, T., Woods, C. and Nagahawatte, A. (2020). Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus: high prevalence of community-associated Types in patients hospitalized at a tertiary care hospital in southern Sri Lanka. American Journal Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 103(S5), pp.95–95.
Rolfe, R.J., Kwobah, C.M., Muro, F., Ruwanpathirana, A.S., Lyamuya, F., Bodinayake, C.K., Nagahawatte, A., Piyasiri, D.L.B., Sheng, T., Bollinger, J.W., Zhang, C., Drew, R.H., Kussin, P.S., Anderson, D.J., Woods, C.W., Watt, M.H., Mmbaga, B.T. and Tillekeratne, L.G. (2020). 166. Barriers to implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs in low- or middle-income country settings: findings from a multi-site qualitative study. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 7(Supplement_1), pp.S91–S91. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.210. See more..
Rolfe, R.J., Muro, F., Lyamuya, F., Kwobah, C.M., Sheng, T., Piyasiri, D.L.B., Bodinayake, C.K., Nagahawatte, A., Yarrington, M.E., Drew, R.H., Kussin, P.S., Watt, M.H., Anderson, D.J., Woods, C.W., Mmbaga, B.T. and Tillekeratne, L.G. (2020). 158. A multi-site, prospective study of antimicrobial prescribing practices in three low- or middle-income country hospitals. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 7(Supplement_1), pp.S88–S89. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofaa439.203. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Tillekeratne, L.G., Bodinayake, C.K., Silva, A.D.D., Nicholson, B.P., Østbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatte, A.D.S. (2019). Community-Associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the predominant type of colonizing MRSA among patients admitted to Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya (THK). The Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists-Annual Academic Sessions, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 17(1), pp.37–37.
Sheng, T., Wijayaratne, G.B., Dabrera, T.M., Nagahawatte, A., Bodinayake, C.K., Kurukulasooriya, R., Nagaro, K.J., Silva, C.D.,Ranawakaarachchi, H., Sudarshana, A.T., Anderson, D.J., Drew, R.H., Drew, R.H., Ostbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Tillekeratne, L.G. (2019). Skin and Soft-tissue Infections Are a Common Reason for Potentially Inappropriate Antimicrobial Use among Inpatients in Sri Lanka. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 6(Supplement_2), pp.S216–S217. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofz360.509.See more..
Zhang, H.L., Wijayaratne, G.B., Jayatissa, P., Piyasiri, B., Sheng, T., Bodinayake, C.K., Nagahawatte, A., Woods, C.W. and Tillekeratne, L.G. (2019). Prevalence and Patterns of Outpatient Antibiotic Prescription at a Public Tertiary Medical Center in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 6(Supplement_2), pp.S614–S614. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofz360.1541. See more..
Sheng, T., Wijayaratne, G.B., Dabrera, T.M., Drew, R.J., Nagahawatte, A., Bodinayake, C.K., Kurukulasooriya, R., Ostbye, T., Nagaro, K.J., De Silva, C. and Ranawakaarachchi, H., (2019). Urinary Tract Infection Is A Common Reason For Potentially Inappropriate Antimicrobial Use Among Inpatients In Sri Lanka. American Journal Of Tropical Medicine And Hygiene, 101, pp. 154-154. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, R.P., Meredith, H.R., Kularatna, S., Nagahawatte, A., Woods, C.W., Thakur, S. and Tillekeratne, L.G. (2018). Multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: high colonization prevalence in peripartum women and their neonates in southern Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists Bulletin, 16(1), pp.47–48. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Tillekeratne, L.G., Bodinayake, C.K., Rajapakshe, M.D., Umesha, B.G.J., de Silva, A.D., Nicholson, B.P., Østbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatte, A.D.S., (2018). Molecular Epidemiology of Colonizing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureusin Patients Admitted to Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya. See more..
Sheng, T., Wijayaratne, G.B.T., Bodinayake, C.K., Kurukulasooriya, R., Nagaro, K., Sudarshana, A.T., Anderson, D., Drew, R., Ostbye, T., Woods, C.W., Nagahawatte, A. and Tillekeratne, L.G. (2018). First point-prevalence study of inpatient antimicrobial use in five public hospitals in southern Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists Bulletin, 16(1), pp.21–21. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, R., Tillekeratne, L.G., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Bodinayake, C.K., Rajapakshe, M.D., Umesha, B.G. and Nagahawatte, A. (2017). High prevalence of suspected nosocomial colonization with methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus at a tertiary care hospital in southern Sri Lanka. American Journal of Tropical medicine and Hygiene, 97, pp.143–143. See more..
Kurukulasooriya, R., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Tillekeratne, L.G., Bodinayake, C.K., Rajapakshe, M.D., Umesha, B.G.J., Abewickrama, T.D.R., Anuradha, K.V.T., Silva, A.D.D., Nicholson, B.P., Østbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatte, A. (2017). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: high prevalence of suspected nosocomial colonization in the surgical and medical wards of Teaching Hospital Karapitiya. The Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists-Annual Academic Sessions, 15(1), pp.10–10. See more
Tillakaratne, L.G., Maduranga, K.H.S., Nagahawatte, A. and Bodinayake, C.K. (2016). Antibiotic overuse in Outpatient Department; is it patients’ request or doctors’ misconception. Galle Medical Journal, 21(S1).
Tillekeratne, L.G., Vidanagama, D., Tippalagama, R., Lewkebandara, R., Joyce, M., Nicholson, B., Nagahawatte, A., Bodinayake, C., Silva, D.D. and Woods, C.W. (2015). High prevalence of community-acquired urinary tract infections due to extended-spectrum ß–lactamase- producing Enterobacteriaceae in southern Sri Lanka. American Society for Microbiology.
Bodinayake, C.K., Tillekeratne, L.G., Nagahawatte, A., Devasiri, V., Arachchi, W.K., Ostbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Reller, M.E. (2014). High prevalence of community-acquired urinary tract infections due to extended-spectrum ß–lactamase- producing Enterobacteriaceae in southern Sri Lanka. x-2007 and 2012- 2013. Ceylon College of Physicians; 47th Annual Academic session.
Manuscripts
Dool, A. van den, Evin, S.L.P., Kim, J., Lyu, X., Abusalem, L., Niu, Y., Tran, K.T., Tillekeratne, L.G., 2025.Bridging the policy gap between climate change and antimicrobial resistance. Lancet Planet. Health, 101409.DOI: 10.1016/j.lanplh.2025.101409
Garcia-Bochas, L.C., Nanayakkara, S., Medrano, P., Nagahawatte, A., Fonseka, C.L., Obale, A., Piyasiri, B., Kurukulasooriya, R., Premamali, M., Moorthy, G. and Abusalem, L., 2025. Physician knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of antibiograms: a pre-implementation study in southern Sri Lanka. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology, 5(1), p.e309. DOI:10.1017/ash.2025.10124
Bollinger, J.W., Wickramasinghe, S.S., Nagahawatte, A.D.S., Piyasiri, D.B., Wijayaratne, W.G.B., Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Sheng, T., Wickramatunga, P.T.S., Premamali, M.M., Ekanayaka, A.H. and Premalal, H.S., 2024. Epidemiology, risk factors, and outcomes of patients with carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections in Southern Sri Lanka. Ceylon Medical Journal, 69, pp.36-43. DOI: 10.4038/cmj.v69i2.10011
Meredith, H.R., Kularatna, S., Nagaro, K., Nagahawatte, A., Bodinayake, C., Kurukulasooriya, R., Wijesingha, N., Harden, L.B., Piyasiri, B., Hammouda, A. and Wiegmann, B.M., 2021. Colonization with multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae among infants: an observational study in southern Sri Lanka. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 10, pp.1-12. DOI: 1186/s13756-021-00938-3
Rolfe, R., Kwobah, C., Muro, F., Ruwanpathirana, A., Lyamuya, F., Bodinayake, C., Nagahawatte, A., Piyasiri, B., Sheng, T., Bollinger, J. and Zhang, C., 2021. Barriers to implementing antimicrobial stewardship programs in three low-and middle-income country tertiary care settings: findings from a multi-site qualitative study. Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 10, pp.1-11. DOI: 10.1186/s13756-021-00929-4
Zhang, H.L., Bodinayake, C., Wijayaratne, G.B., Jayatissa, P., Piyasiri, D.B., Kurukulasooriya, R., Sheng, T., Nagahawatte, A., Woods, C. and Tillekeratne, L.G., 2021. Point-prevalence survey of outpatient antibiotic prescription at a tertiary medical center in Sri Lanka: opportunities to improve prescribing practices for respiratory illnesses. BMC Infectious Diseases, 21, pp.1-7. DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-05804-6
Sheng, T., Wijayaratne, G. B., Dabrera, T. M., Nagahawatte, A., Bodinayake, C. K., Kurukulasooriya, R., Nagaro, K. J., De Silva, C., Ranawakaarachchi, H., Thusitha Sudarshana, A., Anderson, D. J., Drew, R. H., Drew, R. H., Ostbye, T., Woods, C. W., & Tillekeratne, L. G. (2019). 436. Skin and Soft-tissue Infections Are a Common Reason for Potentially Inappropriate Antimicrobial Use among Inpatients in Sri Lanka. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 6(Suppl 2), S216–S217. DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofz360.509
Zhang, H. L., Wijayaratne, G. B., Jayatissa, P., Piyasiri, B., Sheng, T., Bodinayake, C. K., Nagahawatte, A., Woods, C. W., & Tillekeratne, L. G. (2019). 1677. Prevalence and Patterns of Outpatient Antibiotic Prescription at a Public Tertiary Medical Center in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 6(Suppl 2), S614. DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofz360.1541
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P., Tillekeratne, L.G., Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B., Bodinayake, C.K., De Silva, A.D., Nicholson, B.P., Ostbye, T., Woods, C.W. and Nagahawatte, A.D.S., 2018. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: prevalence of and risk factors associated with colonization of patients on admission to the Teaching hospital, Karapitiya. Journal of the University of Ruhuna, 6(2). DOI: 10.4038/jur.v6i2.7878
Tillekeratne, L.G., Vidanagama, D., Tippalagama, R., Lewkebandara, R., Joyce, M., Nicholson, B.P., Nagahawatte, A., Bodinayake, C.K., De Silva, A.D. and Woods, C.W., 2016. Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae as a common cause of urinary tract infections in Sri Lanka. Infection & chemotherapy, 48(3), pp.160-165. DOI: 10.3947/ic.2016.48.3.160
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