Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Microbiology Australia Microbiology Australia Society
Microbiology Australia, bringing Microbiologists together
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Antimicrobial resistance a threat to public health

John Merlino
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

B Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Concord Hospital, NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW, Australia

C Tel: +61 2 9767 6658
Fax: +61 2 9767 7868
Email: JMerlino@med.usyd.edu.au; John.Merlino@health.nsw.gov.au

Microbiology Australia 38(4) 165-167 https://doi.org/10.1071/MA17059
Published: 3 November 2017

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a complex issue and is a threat to public health globally. While emerging and re-emerging diseases have captured news headlines with outbreaks such SARS, bird flu, Ebola and Zika virus around the world, leading health experts tells us that there is a more serious threat to public health – antimicrobial resistance (AMR)1.


References

[1]  Boyce, M. (2017) A new threat to public health: antibiotic-resistant bacteria. http://globalhealth.duke.edu/media/blogs/mscgh/new-threat-public-health-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria

[2]  WHO (2016) Antimicrobial resistance. Fact sheet updated September 2016. http://www.ho.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs194/en/

[3]  Tang, S.S. et al. (2014) Mechanisms of β-lactam antimicrobial resistance and epidemiology of major community- and healthcare-associated multidrug-resistant bacteria. Adv. Drug Deliv. Rev. 78, 3–13.
Mechanisms of β-lactam antimicrobial resistance and epidemiology of major community- and healthcare-associated multidrug-resistant bacteria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC2cXhsVSqtrzM&md5=ea495036437ad12b738dd61323e3d85dCAS |

[4]  Balsalobre, L.C. et al. (2014) An overview of antimicrobial resistance and its public health significance. Braz. J. Microbiol. 45, 1–5.
An overview of antimicrobial resistance and its public health significance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[5]  Gilbert, L. et al. (2014) Healthcare infection prevention and control really is everyone’s business. Microbiol. Aust. 35, 3–4.
Healthcare infection prevention and control really is everyone’s business.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[6]  Jindal, A.K. et al. (2015) Antimicrobial resistance: a public health challenge. Med. J. Armed Forces India 71, 178–181.
Antimicrobial resistance: a public health challenge.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC2MjivVagsA%3D%3D&md5=ba4ea55b2b328afd7bb3291bc58621b6CAS |

[7]  WHO Media Centre (2017) WHO publishes list of bacteria for which new antibiotics are urgently needed. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/bacteria-antibiotics-needed/en/

[8]  O’Neill, J. (2014) Review on antimicrobial resistance. http://amr-review.org/

[9]  Costelloe, C. et al. (2010) Effect of antibiotic prescribing in primary care on antimicrobial resistance in individual patients: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 340, c2096.
Effect of antibiotic prescribing in primary care on antimicrobial resistance in individual patients: systematic review and meta-analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[10]  Australian Government, Department of Health (2016) Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-amr.htm

[11]  Australian Government, Department of Health, Department of Agriculture (2015) Responding to the threat of antimicrobial resistance. Australia’s First National Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy 2015–2019. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/1803C433C71415CACA257C8400121B1F/%24File/amr-strategy-2015-2019.pdf

[12]  Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (2017) Antibiotic Use and Resistance in Australia (AURA). https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/antimicrobial-use-and-resistance-in-australia/2017-report/