LeSPAR
The Learned Society Partnership on Antimicrobial Resistance (LeSPAR) is a powerful collaboration of organisations like SfAM devoted to tackling AMR.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
When a pathogen becomes resistant to antibiotics, it becomes incredibly difficult to treat. Trying to solve this complex problem is at the forefront of microbiology research today.
Combatting antimicrobial resistance (AMR) demands a range of approaches, including strategies to reduce the selective pressure on microbes; retain the efficacy of current antimicrobial products through good practice; and develop new products, tools and technologies.
Applied microbiology is uniquely able to contribute in three areas in particular:
- Research within the ‘One Health’ agenda, integrating human, animal and environmental focused research.
- Environmental aspects of AMR, especially transmission of resistance genes and genetic elements.
- Global collaboration and coordination of surveillance and environmental monitoring.
The Society for Applied Microbiology collaborates with partner organisations, industry representatives, public sector workers and policymakers to promote the value of applied microbiology to multidisciplinary research & development approaches in this area.
Position statement on AMR
SfAM's position statement on antimicrobial resistance
UK launches 5-year antimicrobial resistance action plan
A 20-year vision and five-year action plan for the UK that aims to contain, control and mitigate antimicrobial resistance has been announced.