Ministers Mark European Antibiotics Awareness Day

Ministers Simon Coveney and Leo Varadkar have marked European Antibiotics Awareness Day and the inaugural World Antibiotics Awareness Week by reaffirming their cross-government commitment to tackling the issue of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

The ministers welcomed the awareness initiatives as a means of drawing attention to the continued global concern in relation to Antimicrobial Resistance and its potential threat to human and animal health, as well as the challenges to food security and the environment. In particular, the Ministers said that they wished to highlight the increased worldwide reach of the campaign to raise awareness in relation to AMR which has seen the launching of the first World Antibiotics Awareness Week.

Simon Coveney, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, said: "Through joint leadership across government Departments and a collaborative approach with membership from key industry stakeholders, the National Consultative Committee continues at national level to support strategies and work towards the 'One Health' agenda as endorsed in the World Health Organisation's Global Action plan 2015."

Leo Varadkar, Minister for Health, added: "The Committee's work, with an emphasis on promoting enhanced surveillance around Antimicrobial Resistance in the human and animal health sectors, is an important cross-sectoral support.

"The Committee will continue its leadership role in 2016. In recognition of the threat of antimicrobial resistance three National Clinical Effectiveness Committee Guidelines which promote antimicrobial stewardship – Sepsis Management, Prevention and Control of MRSA and Management of Clostridium difficile are now endorsed by my Department.

"These important guidelines will assist in the early recognition and treatment of infection in both the hospital and community settings and will add to the tools we can use in addressing this most serious global risk."

Concluding, the Ministers said: "Both Departments will continue to engage in efforts to preserve the effectiveness of current antibiotics through prudent use and stewardship programmes as well as promoting infection prevention strategies."

(MH/CD)