The Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Summit was a two-day online event featuring keynote addresses, presentations, panel discussions, and Q&As.
The event took place on Nov 17-18, 2021 to kick off World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.
The two-day summit aimed to contribute to ensuring that Australia benefits from the development and delivery of innovative products, policies, and processes that are essential to tackle AMR.
Much of the discussion concentrated on some well known aspects of the issue, such as the need for AMR surveillance and monitoring, better stewardship and new treatment. But a few other interesting points were raised which really got our audience engaged:
Data access
Data on antimicrobial usage across sectors can help assess levels and prevalence of AMR helping farmers, analysts and clinicians identify medicines that are no longer effective.
Effective data-sharing can only be achieved through collaborative and coordinated efforts that consider privacy and data sensitives. If cases of drug resistance are identified and shared, sectors will be better equipped to act, and limit further spread of resistance.
Transparency of efforts
Having some oversight on the AMR-related initiatives taking place across sectors will open up opportunities for collaboration, reduce duplication of efforts and speed up progress.
Alternative therapies, vaccines, diagnostics, analytics – each project may have applications across a spectrum of business types. By working together, or taking a unified approach, the chances of a positive impact increase.
When we talk about AMR in the environment, water is perhaps the biggest focal point. AMR in the water sector is not as well recognised as it is in the animal and human health sectors, and it is essential that we assess the risk it poses.
Water is a potentially huge source of AMR and AMR residues. Wastewater, storm water, natural waterflows, aquaculture, agricultural runoff, sewerage and even migratory birds all contribute to make water a major reservoir for AMR emergence.
Any serious attempt to mitigate AMR in the environment needs to ensure investment into support for the water sector.
Behaviour change
Mitigating AMR will require businesses, governments and individuals to re-evaluate how valuable antimicrobials are and the significant risks that will eventuate if they become ineffective.
Behaviour change will take time, but as we have seen with the changes adopted throughout the COVID-19 crisis, it can happen and it can be effective.
Understanding the best way to communicate AMR issues to different audiences will play a major part with this transition. The Wellcome Trust invested significant resources into the production of their Reframing Resistance report which promotes consistent and effective language supported by local examples. It provides a useful and practical guide to steps that can be taken by any organisation which is undertaking work in the AMR space.
Water matters
When we talk about AMR in the environment, water is perhaps the biggest focal point. AMR in the water sector is not as well recognised as it is in the animal and human health sectors, and it is essential that we assess the risk it poses.
Water is a potentially huge source of AMR and AMR residues. Wastewater, storm water, natural waterflows, aquaculture, agricultural runoff, sewerage and even migratory birds all contribute to make water a major reservoir for AMR emergence.
Any serious attempt to mitigate AMR in the environment needs to ensure investment into support for the water sector.