Timeline
Online technical discussions: 26 October 2020 - 31 March 2021
Virtual Meeting: 26-29 April 2021
Consultation purpose
Co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Sweden and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of the Republic of Korea, and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), the purpose of the 3rd High level technical consultation and meeting on surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and use for concerted actions is to move forward with the further development and implementation of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS), launched by the WHO in March 2016. The meeting will be preceded by online technical discussions on surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance and Use, hosted by WHO
The current COVID-19 crisis has revealed to the world the acute need for better systems to early detect and respond to emerging threats. More than ever, the surveillance systems that in a timely manner can alert the world for appropriate readiness to handle threats and save lives are necessary. Many COVID-19 patients are receiving antibiotics to prevent and treat secondary bacterial infections. COVID-19 might also cause a rise in inappropriate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, leading to increased antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Surveillance of AMR and antibiotic use has thus never been more important.
Online technical discussions
The online technical discussions will be held from October 2020 to March 2021.The specific objectives of the online technical discussions are to:
- disseminate and familiarize national technical officers in charge of AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) surveillance with GLASS technical documents;
- obtain feedback from national technical officers in charge of AMR and AMU surveillance on clarity, utility and feasibility of GLASS technical documents:
- Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Manual (final draft)(available soon)
- GLASS Early implementation protocol for the inclusion of Candida spp.
- GLASS Method for estimating the attributable mortality of antimicrobial resistant bloodstream infections
- GLASS whole-genome sequencing for surveillance of antimicrobial resistance
- GLASS Protocol for monitoring antimicrobial consumption at hospital level (final draft) (available soon)
- familiarise national technical officers in charge of AMR and AMU surveillance with new technologies and potential approaches to enhance AMR or AMU surveillance;
- provide an opportunity for exchange of experience among national technical officers from different countries and within WHO Regions; and
- inform the discussions and deliberations at the 3rd High level technical consultation and meeting on surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and use for concerted actions in the virtual meeting on 26–29 April 2021.
The online technical discussions will cover four technical themes:
(1) AMU/AMC surveillance methods;
(2) AMR surveillance methods;
(3) Microbiology laboratory methods;
(4) One Health surveillance model;
including the following activities:
- Technical webinars: one global on the potential application of a new technology (metagenomics) for enhancing AMR surveillance and several regional webinars as per thematic area
- Online discussions to respond to countries questions on the specific topics;
- Q&A on the technical topics.
Forthcoming meeting in April 2021
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the feasibility of having a physical meeting will be evaluated at the end of this year, and everyone who has registered for the consultation will be informed about the decision. Building on the online technical discussions, a four-day virtual meeting will be held in April 2021 with the objectives to provide:
- Meeting conclusions indicating a continued and sustained commitment to address surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and use through national actions and to the further development and implementation of GLASS;
- A strategy to support countries in addressing the strengthening of their national surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and use;
- An updated roadmap for the coordination and implementation of global surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and use and ways of addressing gaps in GLASS.