Antimicrobial Resistance 3 (AMR3)

Resistance of micro-organisms to antimicrobial agents or antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a growing risk to human and animal health. The potential of antibacterial agents has been largely exploited and the possibilities of developing new antibiotics are limited. Growing resistance to existing agents is a global phenomenon. These developments mean that the number of untreatable infections will rise internationally, not just those caused by resistant bacteria, but also infections by other resistant micro-organisms like viruses, parasites and fungi. There is a lot to be gained worldwide in terms of human impact on AMR, both in limiting the emergence and spread of AMR and in the deployment of antimicrobial agents.

A lot of AMR-related knowledge is available (inter)nationally that can be leveraged to prevent the (further) emergence of resistant micro-organisms and the development of measures to curb their spread. However, implementing this knowledge in the Netherlands requires methods and strategies that ensure that proven interventions become more deeply embedded in everyday healthcare practices (implementation). As such, the programme aims to improve the implementation of existing knowledge to prevent and/or curb antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a risk to human and animal health. The programme focuses on the following topics:

• Mapping obstacles and stimuli in the implementation of interventions to curb the development and spread of AMR;
• Deployment of strategies that contribute to the effective use of antimicrobial agents by: deploying diagnostics more effectively, ensuring fitting prescribing behaviour, intervention mapping based on (meta)data and information technology and artificial intelligence;
• Implementation of knowledge on behaviour relating to AMR prevention and spreading: intervention mapping of proven interventions that have an impact on the spreading of AMR, particularly in outbreaks;
• More adequately leveraging elements from AMR surveillance that can be implemented and setting up surveillance for resistant micro-organisms other than bacteria.

One Health is an interdisciplinary approach to resistance of micro-organisms in man, animal and the environment and their mutual interaction. Knowledge is required from these disciplines to realise an effective approach to resistance against antimicrobials. This programme stimulates collaboration between researchers in different disciplines.

Resistant micro-organisms do not care about borders. This is why the Netherlands is participating in the Joint Programming Initiative on Antimicrobial Resistance (JPIAMR). JPIAMR coordinates national public funding to support transnational AMR research and activities in the six focus areas as defined in the strategic research agenda: therapies, diagnostics, surveillance, transmission, environment, and interventions. Part of the programme’s budget is earmarked for international cooperation via the JPI’s joint actions. Read more about JPIAMR and the projects.