The discovery and the use of antibiotics have saved countless lives, and are widely recognized as monumental achievements in the history of medicine; however, misusing antibiotics can easily lead to the development of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, which causes prolonged illnesses and even death. To exchange Taiwan’s experiences in implementing antimicrobial stewardship with the world, Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) is holding the APEC Conference on “Strategies Against the Evolving Threats from Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): From Awareness to Concrete Action” at Cathay Financial Conference Hall in Taipei on September 20 and 21.
Representatives from governmental entities, industries and academia have been invited, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Council of Agriculture, the National Health Research Institutes, the Joint Commission of Taiwan, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Infection Control Society of Taiwan. Taiwan CDC has also invited expert scholars in the fields of antimicrobial stewardship and infection control from key international public health organizations, including the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety, the World Veterinary Association, US Centers for Disease Control, and Japan National Institute of Infectious Diseases. Participating delegates and experts are from Australia, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam. The attendees will be sharing their experiences with AMR prevention and control. In addition, a site visit to Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital has been arranged for delegates and invited experts. Posters showcasing APEC member economies’ research findings will also be displayed.
Facing the global AMR crisis, Taiwan CDC has referred to the World Health Organization’s recommended strategies, and included AMR prevention and control in the 2025 White Paper on Health and Welfare Policy. To reduce the incidence and spread of AMR and to improve healthcare quality and safety, currently employed strategies are:
(a)Urging hospitals to implement infection control measures through hospital audit and evaluation
(b)Implementing a national antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP)
(c)Strengthening multi-channeled AMR pathogen surveillance mechanisms
(d)Improving public awareness
(e)Promoting cross-sectoral collaborations with local governments
The results of the above strategies include:
(1)The resistance rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in ICUs in medical centers and regional hospitals has lowered by 20%, from 81.7% in 2008 to 64.6% in 2017.
(2)The density of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) in ICUs in medical centers and regional hospitals has halved, from 10.8‰ in 2008 to 5.3‰ in 2016.
Through this conference, domestic and foreign AMR experts, scholars, and decision makers from various governmental departments are able to share insights and practical experiences with one another. APEC economies will also be brought closer together to face challenges posed by the global AMR crisis, and to safeguard global health security.