10.3 Strategies for Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance

There are many factors that go into play here, namely:

1. Political factors

   Governance, health system and infrastructures, antimicrobial stewardship, surveillance systems, multi-stakeholder engagements , access to water, and sanitation.

2. Economic factors

   Resources and access to appropriate antimicrobials.

3. Sociological factors

   Educational status and awareness and cultural practices and beliefs

4. Technological factors

   Laboratory facilities and human resources, healthcare innovations.

5. Industry factors

   Investments and incentives in research and development of newer drugs.

10.3.1 Action plan

The (Singaporean) government’s Action plan aims to reduce the emergence and the spread of drug-resistant organisms via the five strategies:

1. Education
2. Surveillance and risk assessments
3. Research
4. Prevention of and control of infections
5. Optimization of antibiotic use

10.3.2 Two key global strategies for tacking antimicrobial resistance

1. Reduce demand for antimicrobials so that drug supplies last longer

   To accomplish this, a good public awareness campaign, improved sanitation, better global surveillance of drug resistance and drug consumption in humans and animals, promoting new and rapid diagnostics to reduce the unnecessary use of such drugs, promoting the development of new drugs, and improving the pay and recognition of those working in such fields can work.

2. Increasing the supply of new antimicrobials that are effective against drug-resistant pathogens

   A global innovation fund for early stage research and development could help here - better incentives are also needed to encourage investments.