New UK strategy to tackle antimicrobial resistance

A UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy has been published, calling for a One Health approach in both human and animal medicine.

It follows a report, which dates back to March, put together by the UK's chief medical officer to highlight the scale of threat from antimicrobial resistance.

Taking effect from 2013 to 2018, the strategy has been jointly published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Department of Health, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

It outlines the following seven key areas for action over the next five years:

1. Improving infection prevention and control practices
2. Optimising prescribing practice
3. Improving education, training and public engagement
4. Developing new drugs, treatments and diagnostics
5. Better access to and use of surveillance
6. Better identification and prioritisation or antimicrobial resistance research needs
7. Strengthened international collaboration

The strategy also details specific duties under each sector and acknowledges action already taken within the veterinary profession, such as the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons' guidelines and posters of responsible antimicrobial use.

It has been made clear in the report that scientific evidence suggests antibiotic use in humans, rather that animals, is the primary cause of clinical antimicrobial resistance issues in human medicine.

However, its use in animals is also a contributory factor that must be addressed.

Peter Jones, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), said: "Antimicrobial resistance is indeed one of the most significant threats to animal and human health and we fully support the aims of the UK strategy.

"We fully recognise the need to tackle resistance in animals… the One Health approach of medical and veterinary professionals working together will be crucial to the success of the strategy."