Antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest threats to humans, animals, and our environment.

It means that antimicrobial medicines, like antibiotics, might not work when you need them. Antimicrobial resistance is happening all over the world. Infections that were once easy to cure are becoming harder to treat.

What are antimicrobials?

Microbes are tiny organisms that are all around us. They include bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

Microbes are important for us, but some can make us sick.

Antimicrobials are medicines used to treat infections that are caused by these microbes. They include antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitics.

What is antimicrobial resistance?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) happens when microbes change over time and the antimicrobial medicines used to treat infections caused by them no longer work.

If antimicrobial medicines don’t work, it makes infections harder, or sometimes impossible, to treat.

Why does antimicrobial resistance happen?

Antimicrobial resistance happens when microbes develop defences to stop treatment working effectively.

This can be caused by using antimicrobial medicines, like antibiotics, too much or when we don’t need them.

What can you do?

  1. Prevent infections by regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water.
  2. Understand that antibiotics only work against bacteria. They do not work against viruses like colds and flu.
  3. Don’t pressure your health professional for antibiotics if they say you don’t need them.
  4. Only take antimicrobials when they are prescribed for you – don’t use or share leftover medicines.
  5. Follow your health professional’s instructions when you are prescribed antimicrobial medicines.
  6. Read Information for patients and carers on antibiotic medicines used in hospital.
  7. Return any unused antimicrobials, like antibiotics, to a pharmacy.

What is SA Health doing?

SA Health has a team of pharmacists, microbiologists and project officers who have expertise in antimicrobial resistance.

The team manages the National Antimicrobial Utilisation Surveillance Program (NAUSP), which monitors trends in antimicrobial usage and benchmark usage rates against other hospitals.

SA Health coordinates and manages the South Australian expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (SAAGAR). A key function of SAAGAR is to review and promote safe and appropriate use of antimicrobials.

The South Australian Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan (SAAMRAP) Steering Committee has been established to develop an action plan to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobials and to minimise the spread of antimicrobial resistance.

Educational resources for primary schools have been developed for educators that can be adopted and adapted for use in current learning programs.

Each year for Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (18th -24th November) SA Health has colouring in and poster competitions for South Australian Primary School children as well as other educational activities.