Answers to Questions

Antimicrobial Resistance

474 Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (5 May 2021). What is being done to fight against the silent pandemic AMR (antimicrobial resistance) and how can South Australia's share of this important research work be made larger?

The Hon. S.J.R. PATTERSON (Morphett—Minister for Trade and Investment): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has advised:

SA Health has established the SA Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (SAAGAR), to develop educational and stewardship resources for prescribers and consumers, and to provide advice regarding antimicrobial use in humans. The Communicable Disease Control Branch (CDCB) in SA Health coordinates the activities of SAAGAR. Prescribing guidelines and resources are developed and regularly updated by SAAGAR to support appropriate prescribing of antimicrobials.

SA Health is contracted by the Commonwealth Department of Health to manage and administer the National Antimicrobial Utilisation Surveillance Program (NAUSP). CDCB coordinates the NAUSP, with over 230 hospitals currently registered, to collect data and provide reports to hospitals on their antimicrobial use in the acute care setting. This allows hospitals to monitor their use over time and to compare their usage to other similar hospitals. In the State Public Health Plan 2019-2024, SA Health committed to developing a SA Antimicrobial Resistance Action Plan.