scholarly journals Building the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet)

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolphe Mader ◽  
Peter Damborg ◽  
Jean-Philippe Amat ◽  
Björn Bengtsson ◽  
Clémence Bourély ◽  
...  

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) should be tackled through a One Health approach, as stated in the World Health Organization Global Action Plan on AMR. We describe the landscape of AMR surveillance in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) and underline a gap regarding veterinary medicine. Current AMR surveillance efforts are of limited help to veterinary practitioners and policymakers seeking to improve antimicrobial stewardship in animal health. We propose to establish the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) to report on the AMR situation, follow AMR trends and detect emerging AMR in selected bacterial pathogens of animals. This information could be useful to advise policymakers, explore efficacy of interventions, support antimicrobial stewardship initiatives, (re-)evaluate marketing authorisations of antimicrobials, generate epidemiological cut-off values, assess risk of zoonotic AMR transmission and evaluate the burden of AMR in animal health. EARS-Vet could be integrated with other AMR monitoring systems in the animal and medical sectors to ensure a One Health approach. Herein, we present a strategy to establish EARS-Vet as a network of national surveillance systems and highlight challenges of data harmonisation and bias. Strong political commitment at national and EU/EEA levels is required for the success of EARS-Vet.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolphe Mader ◽  
Clémence Bourély ◽  
Jean-Philippe Amat ◽  
Els M. Broens ◽  
Luca Busani ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundBuilding the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance network in Veterinary medicine (EARS-Vet) was proposed to strengthen the European One Health antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance approach.ObjectivesThe objectives were to (i) define the combinations of animal species, production types, age categories, bacterial species, specimens and antimicrobials to be monitored in EARS-Vet and to (ii) determine antimicrobial test panels able to cover most combinations.MethodsThe EARS-Vet scope was defined by consensus between 26 European experts. Decisions were guided by a survey of the combinations that are relevant and feasible to monitor in diseased animals in 13 European countries (bottom-up approach). Experts also considered the One Health approach and the need for EARS-Vet to complement existing European AMR monitoring systems coordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).ResultsEARS-Vet would monitor AMR in six animal species (cattle, swine, chicken (broiler and laying hen), turkey, cat and dog), for 11 bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus hyicus, Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae and Streptococcus suis). Relevant antimicrobials for their treatment were selected (e.g. tetracyclines) and complemented with antimicrobials of more specific public health interest (e.g. carbapenems). Three test panels of antimicrobials were proposed covering most EARS-Vet combinations of relevance for veterinary antimicrobial stewardship.ConclusionsWith this scope, EARS-Vet would enable to better address animal health in the strategy to mitigate AMR and better understand the multi-sectoral AMR epidemiology in Europe.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (42) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyukmin Lee ◽  
Eun-Jeong Yoon ◽  
Dokyun Kim ◽  
Seok Hoon Jeong ◽  
Jong Hee Shin ◽  
...  

Surveillance plays a pivotal role in overcoming antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacterial pathogens, and a variety of surveillance systems have been set up and employed in many countries. In 2015, the World Health Organization launched the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) as a part of the global action plan to enhance national and global surveillance and research. The aims of GLASS are to foster development of national surveillance systems and to enable collection, analysis and sharing of standardised, comparable and validated data on AMR between different countries. The South Korean AMR surveillance system, Kor-GLASS, is compatible with the GLASS platform and was established in 2016 and based on the principles of representativeness, specialisation, harmonisation and localisation. In this report, we summarise principles and processes in order to share our experiences with other countries planning to establish a national AMR surveillance system. The pilot operation of Kor-GLASS allowed us to understand the national burden of specific infectious diseases and the status of bacterial AMR. Issues pertaining to high costs and labour-intensive operation were raised during the pilot, and improvements are being made.


Author(s):  
Doaa Saleh ◽  
Rana Abu Farha ◽  
Tareq Mukattash ◽  
Muna Barakat ◽  
Eman Alefishat

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization issued a practical approach and Global Action Plan to control the threatening emerging antibacterial resistance. One of the main basis of this plan is the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASPs). This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists’ awareness and perception towards antimicrobial resistance and ASPs in Jordan. Thus, a qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews with twenty community pharmacists. Convienience sampling was used in the study. Qualitative analysis of the data yielded four themes and eleven sub-themes. All the respondents showed good understanding about the causes of antimicrobial resistance. The most important causes reported by them was the non-restricted prescription of antimicrobials. Most of the pharmacists believed that they are competent to provide ASPs, however, they believed that there are several barriers against the implementation of ASPs in community pharmacies in Jordan. Barriers demonstrated by the pharmacists, including organizational obstacles, resources obstacles, and personal obstacles. As a conclusion, this study revealed several barriers against the implementation of ASPs in community pharmacies in Jordan. Incorporating ASPs in the community pharmacy settings requires proper pharmacist training, several academic disciplines team efforts, and good pharmacy practice of antimicrobial guidelines.


2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 978-985
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Zorlescu ◽  
Stelian Baraitareanu ◽  
Doina Danes

INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance is one of the topical issues that is part of the “One Health” concept with implications for animal health, human health, and even environmental “health”. At the European Commission (EC) level, legislation has been issued for the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance and these rules are applicable by each Member State (MS). For the proper implementation of the above legislation, audits are carried out in Member States that have developed programs on antimicrobial resistance that go beyond the EC's requests.OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was the analysis of existing data reports, legislation and recommendations on antimicrobial resistance through which surveillance and monitoring is carried out in the European Union (EU).  METHODS: The audit reports issued between 2015 and 2017 by the Food Veterinary Office (FVO), as well as the articles and studies issued by the EC through the antimicrobial resistance institutes were analysed.RESULTS: The FVO conducted audits to “evaluate the monitoring and reporting of antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic and commensal bacteria in certain food-producing animal populations and food” in 12 MS, and audits to “gather information on the prudent use of antimicrobials in animals” in 8 MS. These are countries that have very well implemented the EC's requests and included the “One Health” perspective in antimicrobial resistance programs. Some Member States have risk management strategies for reducing antimicrobial resistance for more than 20 years. They have carried out research projects on antimicrobial resistance. There is an action plan on antimicrobial resistance at the EC level, but their implementation and understanding up to the level of all actors involved in this issue varies from MS to MS. Antimicrobial resistance in the animal population is a topical issue, notoriety among the actors involved, as well as an interdisciplinary problem with indirect results. The same principle of antimicrobial resistance in animals is applicable to humans and the environment as such, this problem can be embedded in the concept of “One Health”. The overall objective of the MS is to generate knowledge and tools to “combat” antimicrobial resistance in animals, humans and even the environment.CONCLUSION: As a conclusion, in order to improve and optimize antimicrobial resistance programs, a “good practice guide” can be achieved by MS with extensive experience in this area, to be used by MS with a more precarious application and over time to harmonize antimicrobial resistance programs within the EU.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ernesto Palma ◽  
Bruno Tilocca ◽  
Paola Roncada

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents one of the most important human- and animal health-threatening issues worldwide. Bacterial capability to face antimicrobial compounds is an ancient feature, enabling bacterial survival over time and the dynamic surrounding. Moreover, bacteria make use of their evolutionary machinery to adapt to the selective pressure exerted by antibiotic treatments, resulting in reduced efficacy of the therapeutic intervention against human and animal infections. The mechanisms responsible for both innate and acquired AMR are thoroughly investigated. Commonly, AMR traits are included in mobilizable genetic elements enabling the homogeneous diffusion of the AMR traits pool between the ecosystems of diverse sectors, such as human medicine, veterinary medicine, and the environment. Thus, a coordinated multisectoral approach, such as One-Health, provides a detailed comprehensive picture of the AMR onset and diffusion. Following a general revision of the molecular mechanisms responsible for both innate and acquired AMR, the present manuscript focuses on reviewing the contribution of veterinary medicine to the overall issue of AMR. The main sources of AMR amenable to veterinary medicine are described, driving the attention towards the indissoluble cross-talk existing between the diverse ecosystems and sectors and their cumulative cooperation to this warning phenomenon.


2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1670) ◽  
pp. 20140082 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura J. Shallcross ◽  
Simon J. Howard ◽  
Tom Fowler ◽  
Sally C. Davies

Antibiotics underpin all of modern medicine, from routine major surgery through to caesarean sections and modern cancer therapies. These drugs have revolutionized how we practice medicine, but we are in a constant evolutionary battle to evade microbial resistance and this has become a major global public health problem. We have overused and misused these essential medicines both in the human and animal health sectors and this threatens the effectiveness of antimicrobials for future generations. We can only address the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through international collaboration across human and animal health sectors integrating social, economic and behavioural factors. Our global organizations are rising to the challenge with the recent World Health Assembly resolution on AMR and development of the Global Action plan but we must act now to avoid a return to a pre-antibiotic era.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  

Abstract Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is driven by inter-related dynamics in the human, animal, and environmental health sectors and one of the most significant and complex current public health issues of our time. Without effective antimicrobials even common infections may become life-threatening and many treatments such as surgical procedures and chemotherapy will not be possible. There is widespread consensus that the response to AMR requires multiple actions, including improving awareness and understanding of AMR, strengthening the knowledge and evidence based through surveillance and research, reducing the incidence of infection through effective sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention measures, optimising the use of antimicrobials in human and animal health and stimulating research and development (R&D) in novel antimicrobials and alternatives. International and national efforts to combat AMR have grown steadily over the last two decades. Two major landmark developments include the launch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Action Plan on AMR in 2015, which asks all countries to develop national action plans by 2017, and the United Nations (UN) General Assembly agreeing a political declaration on AMR in 2016 where countries committed to work at national, regional, and global levels to develop and implement multisectoral national action plans in accordance with the 'One Health' approach. The European Commission also published a One Health action plan against antimicrobial resistance in 2017. However, despite progress at international level, there remains inconsistent progress and implementation of recommended policies to tackle AMR at national level. The UN Interagency Coordination Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (IACG) recently concluded that currently the greatest challenge in AMR is not designing a national action plan but implementing it. The contrasting cultures, behaviours and incentives of each sector and relevant stakeholders is what makes the successful implementation of AMR national action plans so challenging. The purpose of this workshop will be to discuss the evidence and thinking on the different facets of the complex problem of tackling AMR for academics and policy-makers. These discussions will be informed by a forthcoming book jointly published by the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development titled 'Challenges in Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance: Economic and Policy Responses'. The workshop will focus on five key questions; How can implementation of AMR national action plans be strengthened? What is the evidence on the rise of AMR and its health and economic impact? How can AMR be most effectively addressed in community healthcare settings? How can the discovery of new antibiotics be reinvigorated to replace those rendered ineffective by resistance? Can more use be made of vaccines to tackle AMR? Key messages Antimicrobial resistance is a complex issue which requires actions across the human, animal, environmental health sectors taking a 'One Health' approach. Improving the quality of governance within antimicrobial resistance national action plans is an essential step to strengthening implementation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been a priority area identified by the Government of Sudan and development partners. This paper is part of a study in Sudan using the available documents covering relevant fields pertaining to AMR and interviews with key informants from World Health Organization (WHO) office Sudan, Federal Ministry of Health and other relevant entities. Documents were obtained from related websites for policies, strategies, guidelines, reports, and plans as well relevant international and government agencies in Khartoum. The study was guided by the WHO’s five strategic objectives of Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. This paper focuses on the fourth objective on optimising the use of antimicrobial medicines in human health and animal health. The study revealed the presence of numerous policies and guidelines on antibiotic use and generic prescribing at different levels with little evidence of their implementation. There were a lack of supervisory or monitoring systems to ensure proper and rational prescribing, and appropriate dispensing of antimicrobials in both public and private sectors. The system is weakened due to low capacity for monitoring and checking as a result of limited resources both in terms of human resources, skills, tools and quality checks to ensure the quality of medicines post-marketing. There is a need to set up a quality management system within the existing structures for the distribution, prescription and dispensing of antibiotics in both public and private institutions. The system should clearly define the processes and provide adequate resources to ensure appropriate monitoring and control of antibiotic distribution, prescription and dispensing


Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 384
Author(s):  
Doaa Saleh ◽  
Rana Abu-Farha ◽  
Tareq L. Mukattash ◽  
Muna Barakat ◽  
Eman Alefishat

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization issued a practical approach and Global Action Plan to control the threatening emerging antibacterial resistance. One of the main bases of this plan is the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program (ASPs). This study aimed to evaluate community pharmacists’ awareness and perception towards antimicrobial resistance and ASPs in Jordan. Thus, a qualitative study was conducted through in-depth interviews with twenty community pharmacists. Convenience sampling was used in the study. Qualitative analysis of the data yielded four themes and eleven sub-themes. All the respondents showed a good understanding of the causes of antimicrobial resistance. The most important cause reported by them was the non-restricted prescription of antimicrobials. Most of the pharmacists believed that they are competent to provide ASPs, however, they believed that there are several barriers against the implementation of ASPs in community pharmacies in Jordan. Barriers demonstrated by the pharmacists, included organizational obstacles, resources obstacles, and personal obstacles. In conclusion, this study revealed several barriers against the implementation of ASPs in community pharmacies in Jordan. Incorporating ASPs in the community pharmacy settings requires proper pharmacist training, several academic disciplines team efforts, and good pharmacy practice of antimicrobial guidelines.


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