WHO activities on antimicrobial resistance

A series of policy briefs was launched on World Health Day 2011, defining priority areas for action – from increased surveillance and tighter controls in the use of medicines, to calling for greater research efforts into new tools and innovations. The goal is to ensure today’s patients have access to high-quality, effective antimicrobials and that these are preserved for future generations. WHO is committed to supporting the implementation of these six policy areas. Existing programmes that include work on addressing antimicrobial resistance are being brought together to ensure that actions are coordinated and increase critical mass.

• Policy briefs

The World Health Assembly has issued a series of Resolutions, clearly identifying antimicrobial resistance as a public health priority and directing WHO to support international efforts and Member States in confronting the challenge of antimicrobial resistance and promoting the rational use of antimicrobials.

• WHA and Regional Committee Resolutions

In the late 1990s, WHO convened a series of meetings and expert groups to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. This work culminated in the publication in 2001 of a series of public health strategies, technical guidelines, and prioritized recommendations for the implementation of the WHO global strategy for containment of antimicrobial resistance.

• Global strategy documents and recommendations

WHO provides technical guidelines to support antimicrobial resistance containment and assists countries in the establishment of the needed infrastructure to support national medicines policy, health services, and surveillance capacity.

• Improving antimicrobial use
• Surveillance of antimicrobial use
• Blocking transmission of resistant microbes
• Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance
• Meetings on antimicrobial resistance