Canberra [Australia], September 16: Australia's national science agency has launched an online tool to enhance knowledge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and reduce its threat to health.
AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites evolve to become resistant to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines designed to kill them.
Infections that have developed AMR can be difficult or impossible to treat, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, disability and death.
Launched on Monday by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the new AMR Actions and Insights online tool will provide evidence-based information to Australians to inform policy and action to reduce the impact of AMR on human, animal and environmental health.
According to the CSIRO, more than 1,600 Australians die each year from AMR infection. The WHO estimates AMR was responsible for 1.27 million deaths globally in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths in the same year.
Branwen Morgan, leader of the CSIRO's Minimising AMR initiative, said that many people think AMR does not affect them because they do not take antimicrobials or mistakenly believe new drugs are in the pipeline that will solve the problem.
"Fragmented knowledge and misconceptions about AMR are major issues hindering effective action. The new website aims to bridge these gaps and foster a more unified understanding of AMR," she said in a media release.
"We hope AMR Action and Insights will highlight how Australia can be a leading player in mitigating AMR and encourage decision-makers at all levels to consider AMR as a critical factor in their activities."
The tool was developed by the CSIRO in collaboration with the federal Department of Health and Aged Care and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
It was launched ahead of an upcoming United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR in New York on Sept. 26.
Source: Xinhua