Australia has been building a national approach to addressing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for many years. AMR involves a complex interplay of environmental, clinical and behavioural factors in humans, animals and agriculture. To date there have been a range of different activities and approaches undertaken by different agencies in both human and animal health to address specific aspects of AMR. Examples of some of these activities include regulatory restrictions on the prescription and use of antimicrobials, hand hygiene and antimicrobial stewardship programs, education for prescribers, and research into new products and approaches to prevent and respond to AMR.
In 2012 it became clear that to make real progress Australia needed a nationally coordinated approach to addressing AMR. Australia has since developed a One Health approach to AMR which aims to be integrated across all human health, animal health and agriculture. In addition, in 2013 the Commission was engaged to establish a national surveillance system for antimicrobial use (AU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) for human health.
The One Health elements are being led by the Australian Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Containment (AMRPC) Steering Group, co-chaired by the Secretaries of the Department of Health and Department of Agriculture. This Committee also includes Australia’s Chief Medical Officer and Chief Veterinary Officer.
This year the Australian Government released the First National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy to guide the response to AMR and AU. In November 2015 a workshop was held by the Department of Health to develop a national implementation plan to support this Strategy.
The Commission has a well-established role in working effectively with the public and private healthcare sectors, and has demonstrated achievements in coordination of a healthcare associated infection prevention program, antimicrobial stewardship and accreditation schemes.
The Department of Health funded the Commission to coordinate the national surveillance system as the platform for data and information to guide strategies to reduce the impact of AMR. A national surveillance system will help us understand where antibiotics are being used and in what quantities; the emergence of new drug resistant organisms; and the prevalence of important drug resistant organisms.