Denis Naughten
Question:142 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the action his Department is taking to address antibiotic resistance in pathogenic micro-organisms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12462/03]
Written Answers. - Antibiotic Resistance.
The problem of antimicrobial resistance has been identified by many countries worldwide as a major threat to public health. The World Health Organisation has recognised antimicrobial resistance as a cause of prolonged morbidity, increased case fatality and lengthening the duration of epidemics. The EU called on its member states to prioritise the development of a strategy to combat this problem.
In 1999 my Department asked the National Disease Surveillance Centre, NDSC, to evaluate the problem of antimicrobial resistance in Ireland and to formulate a strategy for the future. The NDSC gave detailed consideration to these issues and drew up a strategy for the control of antimicrobial resistance in Ireland, SARI, which I launched on 19 June 2001. This report contains a wide range of detailed recommendations to address the issue of antimicrobial resistance, including a strategy to control the inappropriate use of antibiotics. The SARI recommendations can be grouped into five main categories: surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, monitoring of the supply and use of antimicrobials, development of guidance in relation to the appropriate use of antimicrobials, education of health care workers, patients and the general public, and development of principles in relation to infection control in the hospital and community setting.
The strategy for the control of antimicrobial resistance in Ireland recommended that a national SARI committee be established to develop guidelines, protocols and strategies in relation to antimicrobial resistance. The committee will also provide advice to the regional SARI committees. This committee has now been established and held its first meeting in December 2002; its membership is drawn from a wide range of experts in the field.
Tackling the problem of antimicrobial resistance is a multi-faceted issue which will require action on a number of fronts. Implementation of the strategy is taking place on a phased basis and will take a number of years to complete. In the current year an additional sum of €584,000 is being provided to the health boards to fund national initiatives and-or measures recommended by the national SARI committee to facilitate the continued implementation of this strategy. The boards have been asked to address in particular infection control strategies and staffing in both hospitals and the community, the development of surveillance systems for the collection of antimicrobial resistance data and information on antibiotic prescribing in hospitals.