Objective 3: Surveillance of AMR and antibiotic usage
Objective Three of the National Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Strategy aims to:
- enhance our capacity to collect, analyse and report on AMR and the use of antimicrobials in Australia
- provide data on resistant organisms, and the illnesses caused by them, to understand their:
- magnitude
- distribution
- impact
- inform local, national, regional and global action that needs to take place and evaluate our response to AMR.
Why is this important?
Surveillance collects, analyses and reports data on key organisms that are resistant to antibiotics and on the use of antibiotics. Surveillance improves our how we can respond to the threat of AMR by detecting:
- emerging resistance and trends
- links between antibiotic use and resistance
- where we need to act.
View the full details of Objective Three of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2015–2019, including specific priority areas of action.
What are we doing?
- Australia has a national system for AMR and antibiotic usage surveillance in human health. The system is called the AURA Surveillance System. It collects and reports on data from hospitals, aged care facilities and the community.
The report is primarily focussed on analyses of 2015 data. It builds on AURA 2016 to increase the comprehensiveness of the picture of antimicrobial use, resistance and the appropriateness of prescribing in Australia across all healthcare settings.
- Four key surveillance programs contribute to AURA:
- AURA also includes the National Alert System for Critical Antimicrobial Resistances (CARAlert). It collects and reports data on critical organisms that are resistant to last-line antimicrobials.
- The National Centre for Antimicrobial Stewardship manages the National Antimicrobial Prescribing Survey (NAPS). The survey audits antimicrobial prescribing patterns and identifies where changes can be made to improve prescribing in human health. The survey collects data from hospitals and residential aged care settings. A pilot is underway to implement NAPS in general practice.
- An Australian research report analyses antimicrobial surveillance actions in the animal and agriculture sector in Australia and other countries.
- The Australian Government carried out a Pilot Surveillance Program for Antimicrobial Resistance in Bacteria of Animal Origin.
- The Australian Government has funded monitoring of the rate of resistance in bacteria from food-producing animals.
- Researchers are measuring the levels of AMR in other livestock, companion animal and wildlife species.
- Wildlife Health Australia manages wildlife surveillance programs. The National Wildlife Health Information System database captures data on AMR in free-ranging wildlife.
- The 2014 report Quantity of Antimicrobial Products Sold for Veterinary Use in Australia provides data on antimicrobial product sales for veterinary use in Australia between 2005 and 2010.
Find out more about what partners from across Australia are doing to support Objective Three of the National AMR Strategy.
Share your activity or research project that supports Objective Three of the National AMR Strategy.