Africa CDC establishes African Union Framework for AMR Control, 2020-2025

The African Union established a Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance in 2018 which has now developed the African Union Framework for Antimicrobial Resistance Control 2020–2025. The framework emphasizes that the African Union must take a comprehensive approach to tackling AMR in the region. The first strategic priority is to improve surveillance of antimicrobial use and AMR as the lack of continent-wide data hinders understanding of AMR’s impact on Africa. Secondly, the Framework seeks to delay the emergence of AMR (e.g., increasing the percentage of physicians and human health providers adhere to guidelines and promoting adherence to good agricultural practices). Furthermore, the framework also identifies a need to reduce AMR transmission by, for example, supporting healthcare facilities and the food sector to implement infection prevention and control programs. As part of this framework component, there is an objective to increase the availability and sales of animals raised using antibiotic-stewardship concordant practices. and mitigate harm from AMR (e.g., increasing health care facilities’ access to quality diagnostic tests). To evaluate the framework, the African Union will create a monitoring and evaluation team and identify ‘five-year targets for each activity”.

UN Agencies open call for Experts for One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP)

At the Paris Peace Forum 2020, the proposal for a One Health High-Level Expert Council was initiated by the French government with support of the German government. The Tripartite Agencies (WHO/FAO/OIE) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) will be participating in this Expert Panel. The 20-person Expert Panel is intended to collect and communicate reliable scientific information on the One Health interface and support policymakers to prevent future One Health crises. Furthermore, the OHHLEP will also provide advice on better understanding the impacts of food systems. The joint UN organizers have opened a call for experts closing on April 16, 2021. In the terms of reference, it is stated that the OHHLEP will operate independently from the Global Leaders Group (GLG) on Antimicrobial Resistance and the Independent Panel on Evidence for Action Against AMR. The responsibility to provide Secretariat services will rotate between the UN Partner agencies. The rotating Secretariat will also liaise with the GLG on AMR and the Independent Evidence Panel

U.S. CDC provides highlights of antibiotic resistance solutions

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided highlights of their 2020 “antibiotic resistance solutions” around the world. In 2020, the organization funded over $6 million worth of antibiotic resistance projects worldwide, with nearly 20 single-country projects. These range from surveillance initiatives in India and China to laboratory training and support in Kenya. Moreover, the U.S. CDC also funded six multi-country antibiotic resistance projects in 2020, including one throughout Latin America to strengthen national policies and infection prevention and control tactics. Across Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the U.S. CDC also funded several projects to support increased diagnostic capabilities for antibiotic resistance, along with the prevention of tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

U.S. CDC updates its gonorrhea  guidelines

Gonorrhea is the second most reported bacterial sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The CDC classified drug-resistant gonorrhea as an urgent threat that requires urgent and aggressive action. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacterial cause of gonorrhea, can rapidly develop antibiotic resistance. However, after data in 2007 showed extensive fluoroquinolone resistance in the United States, cephalosporin antibiotics remained the only recommended antibiotic class to treat the disease. However, stewardship concerns and new data on antimicrobial dosing against N. gonorrhoeae motivated a revision of the guidelines. The new gonorrhea treatment recommendations double the dose to 500 milligrams of ceftriaxone and do not recommend azithromycin. To monitor the impact of the new treatment recommendations and trends in resistant gonorrhea, the guidelines recommend monitoring for emergence of ceftriaxone resistance.