A new resource has been launched that will provide evidence-based, accessible information to inform policy and action to reduce the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on human, animal and environmental health.
AMR Action and Insights was developed by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO, as part of their Minimising AMR initiative that was co-created with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the Department of Health and Aged Care.
AMR occurs when disease-causing microbes evolve to resist the effects of medicines, such as antibiotics, designed to kill them. This growing global problem is accelerated by the inappropriate use (overuse, underuse, and misuse) of antimicrobials in humans and animals.
More than 1600 people in Australia die each year from an AMR infection. Globally, AMR is directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths. These numbers are increasing.
“Fragmented knowledge and misconceptions about AMR are major issues hindering effective action,” CSIRO’s lead of minimising antimicrobial resistance Professor Branwen Morgan said.
“The new website aims to bridge these gaps and foster a more unified understanding of AMR.
“Information is often siloed within different sectors, leading many people to believe that AMR doesn’t affect them or that they can’t do anything about it. They might think it’s not relevant because they don’t take antimicrobials, or they mistakenly believe there are new drugs in the pipeline that will solve the problem.
“This project seeks to break down these silos by showcasing perspectives from all sectors. We have taken a One Health approach, which recognises the interconnection between people, animals, and the environment.”
The site includes articles that consider the role of biosecurity and other risk-mitigation tools such as artificial intelligence in addressing AMR, and how the environment is often overlooked in conversations about the emergence and spread of AMR.
