ARCH Net Workshops

Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial use (AMU) are essential to all aspects of antibiotic prescribing and clinical management of patients. Knowledge of up-to-date surveillance data improves public health not only at the local level (clinical outcomes for patients) but also globally (hospital and community). However the link between availability of surveillance data and antibiotic prescription is vague and fragmented.

Major limitations to bridge the gap between surveillance data and antibiotic policy are the significant heterogeneity in data reporting among different countries and within the same country and the poor connection between clinical prescribers and surveillance data providers. Of even more concern is the insufficient coordination of surveillance systems of human AMU and AMR resistance with animal surveillance systems. In this scenario, a global, translational approach linking surveillance reports with stewardship team recommendations, would facilitate the interventions, ensure generalisability of the results, and contribute to a coordinated effort to reduce inappropriate antibiotic usage in animals and humans.

ARCH Net aims to finalise a series of four white papers tailored for different settings. Our partner Rodolphe Mader, from Anses, The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, will be representing EU-JAMRAI in the Veterinary Working Group, which objective is to develop guidelines on reporting antimicrobial use and antimicrobial resistance to drive antibiotic stewardship in veterinary care.