Antimicrobial Resistance

Confronting the “silent pandemic”

 

About antimicrobial resistance (AMR):

Antimicrobials, or, agents that prevent the spread and growth of unwanted microbes, are an extraordinary medical advancement that have treated people against deadly infections since the early 20th century. However, an overdependence on them coupled with widespread misuse have led to an urgent global health crisis: antimicrobial resistance, when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medications (such as antibiotics).

In 2019, the World Health Organization declared AMR one of the top-ten global health priorities.

There are actions that health workers and individuals can immediately take to help slow the spread of AMR, such as prescribing antibiotics with discretion and taking them as directed. At IVI, we and our partners are working directly with health institutions and governments to develop systemic solutions to tackle the root causes of AMR spread and emergence.

 

 

What is IVI doing?

Providing quality data to support effective policy

 

IVI and its consortium of partners are conducting multi-country efforts to identify gaps in data and evaluate and increase available data on AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU). Evaluating both historical and current data is crucial to inform prospective surveillance efforts because data informs effective policy.

Through three separate Fleming Fund Regional Grants, funding provided by the UK government, IVI and partners are working with countries across Asia and sub-Saharan Africa to identify, evaluate, and create a demand for quality data to advance effective policymaking.

Why is this important? Reliable and timely data are needed to generate the evidence to convince policy makers to invest in sustainable solutions to AMR.

CAPTURA

Expanding the volume of historical and current data on antimicrobial resistance and usage in Asia

 

The IVI-led CAPTURA consortium was awarded two out of four Fleming Fund Regional Grants to work with 12 countries in South and South East Asia to collect and analyze historical and current data on AMR and AMU in the human health sector.

 

Learn more about CAPTURA .

RADAAR

Sharing AMR data to inform and drive effective policymaking

 

IVI and its consortium of partners are also spearheading an effort to catalyze regional AMR data sharing and analysis to influence regional and global policies for sustained commitment to AMR control. The RADAAR project (Regional AMR Data Analysis for Advocacy, Response, and Policy) aims to conduct data analysis, visualization, and advocacy for regional sharing and use of data in policy, planning, and practice in the Fleming Fund priority countries across Asia and Africa.

Using a One Health approach that involves both the human and animal health sectors, the project will engage with the intersecting issues of AMR, AMU, and antimicrobial consumption. Extensive and close engagement with country stakeholders is planned for 2021 through a series of regional data sharing and policy workshops.

Learn more about RADAAR here.

EQASIA
Strengthening external quality assurance (EQA) programs across reference labs in Asia

 

The Technical University of Denmark’s National Food Institute is leading an effort with IVI, the National Institute of Health, Thailand and Chulalongkorn University to improve the quality of bacteriology diagnostics in national reference labs in Asia. It is crucial to address the quality of bacteriology diagnostics at the regional level, and across all One Health sectors, to ensure generated lab data is accurate and comparable according to international standards and hence useful for national surveillance. Through EQASIA, we work to strengthen external quality assurance programs for AMR through delivering comprehensive proficiency testing schemes and training.

Learn more about EQASIA here.

The Fleming Fund is a £265 million UK aid investment to tackle antimicrobial resistance in low-and middle-income countries around the world. The programme is managed by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, in partnership with Mott MacDonald, the Fleming Fund Grants Management Agent.

Page last updated in June 2021

 

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