Media Releases
National Summit on Antibiotic Resistance
Leaders in health, agriculture and industry as well as consumers will be meeting for the first time at a National Summit on Antibiotic Resistance on May 30 and 31 in Sydney.
28 May 2001
National Summit on Antibiotic Resistance
Leaders in health, agriculture and industry as well as consumers will be meeting for the first time at a National Summit on Antibiotic Resistance on May 30 and 31 in Sydney.
The National Summit on Antibiotic Resistance is a Commonwealth initiative jointly hosted by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
According to the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Richard Smallwood, the National Summit provides an opportunity for Australia's leaders across a number of sectors to discuss and work together towards implementing the national antibiotic resistance management program outlined in the Government's response to the Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (JETACAR) Report.
The resistance management program focuses on both human and animal use of antibiotics.
"Antibiotic resistance is not a new problem," Professor Smallwood said today.
"Scientists have known about antibiotic resistance since the 1950s and Australia has always taken a conservative approach to the registration and use of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture.
"The impact of antibiotic resistant infection is most often seen in the hospital setting. Infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria are difficult to treat with first-line antibiotics and are often associated with increased morbidity, increased time in hospital and higher mortality rates.
"Most antibiotic resistance results from overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics in human medicine. However, JETACAR also reported the agricultural use of antibiotics may have contributed to some extent to the overall problem.
Professor Smallwood said Australia had been proactive and a world leader in investigating the relationship between the use of antibiotics in animals and the potential transfer of bacterial resistance to humans and in implementing appropriate risk management strategies.
"In 1999 JETACAR reported to government, proposing the development of a national antibiotic resistant management program to help control the global problem of antibiotic resistance," he said.
"The National Summit is an important step in implementing the recommendations flowing from the JETACAR Report. JETACAR's recommendations are echoed by recent calls from the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce the overall world consumption of antibiotics."
The Summit brings together the key players in government, industry and the community to review current commitment to this task and to drive implementation. Gaps and future needs for an effective national antibiotic resistance management plan will be identified, and solutions proposed.
As well, communication issues for the medical, agricultural communities, including State Governments, industry and the general public will be canvassed and discussed. The Summit will produce a communique at the close of the meeting outlining progress and future directions.
The national antibiotic resistance management program framework outlined by the Government will be further refined as a result of this Summit and communication and education programs developed to assist in its implementation.
Opening Program:
Professor Smallwood will open the Summit, to be held at the Stamford Sydney Airport Hotel on Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31 May 2001 at 10 am.Associate Professor John Turnidge, recently appointed chair of the National Health and Medical Research Council's Expert Advisory Group on Antibiotics (EAGA), will give a key note address
Dr Rosamund Williams, from the World Health Organization, will speak on global perspectives on antibiotic resistance.
Agriculture Minister, Warren Truss, will give a short opening address.
Dr Bob Biddle, Commonwealth Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer, will speak on The Agriculture and Health Interface - Into the Future
Professor John Mathews, Head of the National Centre for Disease Control who will set the scene for the Summit.
Media is invited to the opening sessions - for more details and a full program of speakers and topics please call Kay McNiece, Media Advisor, Department of Health and Aged Care on 02 6289 9264 or 0412 132 585. More information on JETACAR is available on the web: www.health.gov.au/pubhlth/strateg/jetacar/
