Prioriteiten in de bestrijding van antimicrobiële resistentie (AMR): heeft de Europese Unie, voorgezeten door België, stappen gezet op weg naar de Algemene Vergadering van de Verenigde Naties?

Priorities in fighting Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): did the European Union, chaired by Belgium, take momentum on its way to the United Nations General Assembly meeting? Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) presents an urgent global health challenge that demands an integrated One Health approach. It is crucial to disseminate the insights and outcomes from conferences such as the recent AMR event held during Belgian EU presidency. The first day of the conference focused on hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), which account for three-quarters of AMR-related deaths. The prevalence of HAIs has risen due to COVID-19. Current projects of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) aim to improve digital surveillance for bloodstream infections and standardize the health data collection and analysis. The second day centered on the One Health strategy for addressing the AMR issue, emphasizing the need for collaboration among the human, animal, and environmental sectors on a global scale, as AMR transcends borders. On the third day, representatives from various European and international health organizations discussed the AMR EU targets for 2030, which are increasingly challenging to attain. Coordinated action and EU-wide benchmarking were underscored as essential. In Belgium, antibiotic use in the animal sector has decreased, although significant improvements are still required in the human sector. ‘Hospital Outbreak Support Teams’ (HOST) facilitate collaboration between hospitals and nursing homes, yet the outpatient sector remains overlooked. Urgent action is needed to standardize antibiotic prescription surveillance and provide financial support. In conclusion the EU (including Belgium) must demonstrate leadership in combating AMR. Legislation must be strengthened, diagnostic tests enhanced, and support given to innovation. Political leadership and cooperation are vital for achieving European AMR objectives.