A new UK five-year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy and Action Plan is in development and is expected to be published by the Department of Health in the summer.
The strategy will accelerate progress and build on previous work to address antimicrobial resistance. It will also deal with the issues raised by the Chief Medical Officer’s annual report. Engagement with significant stakeholders and delivery partners has already helped to develop a number of measures that will form part of the strategy. The intention is to focus on seven important areas:
• Surveillance and guidance, for example on prescribing.
• Antimicrobial stewardship including infection prevention and control and antibiotic prescribing.
• Increasing awareness to bring about behaviour change.
• Improved training and education of all healthcare staff.
• Research to understand antimicrobial resistance, and improve diagnostics and treatment alternatives.
• Development of drugs and innovative therapies.
• Increasing international collaboration and data sharing.
