Posted: 1 March 2024
In the ongoing battle against the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the WHO Collaborating Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance at the Doherty Institute, in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO), has taken a significant step forward by developing a guidance document regarding AMR surveillance.
In recognition of the significant threat AMR poses to global health, economies, and development, a guidance document titled “Guidance on establishing national and local AMR surveillance systems in the Western Pacific Region” has been launched. This vital resource, accompanied by an Excel-based assessment tool, aims to empower Member States to establish, evaluate, and strengthen their AMR surveillance systems at the national and facility level, providing a critical foundation for addressing the AMR crisis in fast-growing bacteria causing human infections that is already impacting the region.
AMR threatens to render commonplace medical interventions, such as childbirth, surgery, and cancer treatment, perilously risky due to bacterial infections becoming increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics. The new guidance document emphasises the importance of a systems approach to AMR surveillance in guiding patient care, shaping local, national, and regional actions, and monitoring the effectiveness of interventions. Passive surveillance based on microbiological testing of routine clinical samples in hospitals is supplemented by active surveillance approaches including prevalence surveys and event-based surveillance. The document highlights the importance of AMR surveillance data to detect outbreaks of AMR pathogens, inform response measures, and support antimicrobial stewardship and monitoring of trends in infection and resistance.
The development of this guidance document is the product of collaborative efforts between the WHO CC for Antimicrobial Resistance at the Doherty Institute, the WHO WPRO and regional national governments, evidence of the shared commitment to tackling the AMR threat through a concerted, region-wide approach. By providing a comprehensive framework for AMR surveillance, the document aims to facilitate a more informed and effective response to AMR, leveraging the power of data to safeguard public health.
Dr. Takeshi Nishijima, Technical Focal Point for AMR, WHO WPRO, highlighted the significance of the document:
“The launch of this guidance is a pivotal moment in our fight against AMR. By equipping Member States with the knowledge and tools to establish robust AMR surveillance systems, we are laying the groundwork for a coordinated, data-driven response to this pressing public health challenge.”
Courtney Lane from the WHO CC for AMR who helped develop the document, reflected on the collaborative process:
“The development of this guidance document was a collaborative, multidisciplinary effort, drawing on the insights and expertise of clinicians, scientists, and policy makers with experience across the region. Their input was instrumental in creating a practical, actionable tool that will play a critical role in enhancing AMR surveillance and, ultimately, in protecting public health.”
The launch of the “Guidance on establishing national and local AMR surveillance systems in the Western Pacific Region” marks another step forward in the global fight against AMR. By providing Member States with the resources needed to strengthen their AMR surveillance systems, the WHO CC for AMR at the Doherty Institute and WHO WPRO are supporting a more resilient, informed, and coordinated approach to AMR management in the Western Pacific.
