Antimicrobial resistance is a global and critical issue facing the world today. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control is supporting the World Health Organisation in their campaign ‘SAVE LIVES: Clean your hands’, which aims to increase global awareness of the role of hand hygiene to combat antimicrobial resistance.

The WHO awareness day is the 5^th May, when two global surveys will be taking place on the following topics, which you can contribute to:

–          A Global Prevalence Survey on Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDROs) – laboratories in healthcare facilities around the world are asked to submit data from inpatient clinical blood and urine laboratory specimens, related to five selected key multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs).

–          A Point Prevalence Global Survey on use of Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis (SAP) – surgical wards in health–care facilities around the world are asked to submit data on SAP in surgical patients of one or more wards on a given day.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control has recently published a timely review article by Professor Lindsay Nicolle, highlighting the importance of antimicrobial stewardship as a method of controlling multidrug resistant bacteria spread in long term care facilities. This article suggests that antibiotic use is often inappropriate, and can encourage the spread of resistant bacteria.

There are many different courses of action which must be taken to combat the issue of antimicrobial resistance, and hand hygiene is one that everyone can contribute to. Go to the WHO website to find out more about how you can become involved with the initiative and for more information on how to prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria.