Resistance surveillance

Dr Nesrine Rizk discusses what resistance surveillance is, what it involves, and how it is carried out.

To better understand and respond to antimicrobial resistance patterns and key drivers, information about AMR incidence, prevalence and trends must be gathered. Therefore, resistance surveillance is key.

Surveillance includes the collection of both clinical and microbiological data. The tracking of microbiological populations permits the early detection of resistant strains. Findings inform clinical therapy decisions, drive policy recommendations and provide the ability to assess the impact of resistance containment interventions.

There are several different types of surveillance, such as:

1. Alert organism tracking – identification, confirmation and communication of a specific organism of concern

2. Enhanced routine surveillance – active review, interpretation, confirmation and investigation of results generated from routine clinical care

3. Targeted survey – a one-time, periodic study of certain scientific/public health policy to study a specific question

The following are very important for surveillance:

• Role of microbiology lab

• Developed software’s that will survey AMR

• Surveillance of antimicrobial use (see step X)

The WHO developed the Global Antimicrobial resistance Surveillance Systems (GLASS) to facilitate and encourage a standardised approach to AMR surveillance globally and also to support the implementation of the global action plan on AMR. The main objectives of GLASS are:

1. Improve awareness and understanding of AMR

2. Strengthen knowledge and evidence base

3. Reduce the incidence of infection

4. Optimise use of antimicrobials in humans and animals

5. Develop economic tools for sustainable investment

We have now seen the importance of resistance surveillance in practice, so next we will discuss the methodology for measuring antibiotic consumption.