AMR strategies need to think globally
Image: RCVS
The findings from a recent symposium indicate that strategies to deal with antimicrobial resistance (AMR) need to consider imported problems.
As well as pursuing measures to reduce the emergence and proliferation of AMR in the UK, it is advised that our national strategies consider measures to identify, reduce and deal with imported problems, whether these are in humans, food or animals.
Researchers, practitioners and policy makers from the human and veterinary medical fields came together for the symposium, which was entitled "Antimicrobial resistance in human and veterinary medicine: one medicine, one problem?" During the event, the evidence base for antimicrobial resistance was explored, and the key findings summarised in a communiqué.
The importance of viewing AMR as a global issue is stressed in the communiqué, which states: "In an increasingly connected world, it is evident that any measures need to tackle global use [of antibiotics]."
The event was held at the end of last year, and was jointly organised by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) and the Royal College of Pathologists, in association with the Health Protection Agency, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
Speaking of the event, joint organiser Professor Lord Trees said: “The symposium was a very constructive and successful event. Not only were there medics and vets talking in the same room, they were in broad agreement about the key issues. Now we need to carry these messages to the politicians in Britain and in Europe, and the communiqué is the start of that process.”
The communiqué, which was written by the Scientific Advisory Committee of the symposium, can now be downloaded from the RCVS website.
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
