Issmat I Kassem

Issmat I Kassem is an Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia's Center for Food Safety within the College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. His research focuses on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), food safety, and environmental microbiology. He investigates the emergence and dissemination of drug-resistant pathogens in food systems, water resources, and clinical settings, with particular attention to low-resource regions like Lebanon and refugee communities. His work addresses critical challenges such as colistin resistance (mcr genes), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, and zoonotic diseases.

Key research interests include:

• Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in foodborne and environmental pathogens
• Impact of economic collapse on healthcare infrastructure and AMR in Lebanon
• Role of international trade and refugees in pathogen spread
• Environmental contamination of water systems used for irrigation

Recent articles highlight his work on:

• Carbapenemase-resistant E. coli in farm dogs and refugee communities
• Colistin-resistant Enterobacterales in poultry and sewage
• Public health implications of AMR during crises like the Syrian refugee crisis

No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided information. His IKassem Lab focuses on translational research linking environmental, clinical, and food safety domains. Ongoing projects involve genomic analysis of resistant pathogens and developing AMR surveillance frameworks in conflict zones.