Implementing JETACAR

The Commonwealth Government Response to the Report of the Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (JETACAR) highlights the need for a coordinated and balanced approach to better manage the use of antibiotics in humans and food producing animals.

In this section:

JETACAR Related links

Please Note: For the purposes of this website, the terms Antimicrobial Resistance and Antibiotic Resistance are used interchangeably.

Antibiotic resistance is a problem of increasing global importance. 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. The JETACAR report (released in October 1999) made recommendations for an antibiotic resistance management program focussing on both human and animal use of antibiotics. In October 2000 the Government released The Commonwealth Government Response to the Report of the Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee on Antibiotic Resistance (JETACAR). This constitutes a joint response by the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Australia, and highlights the need for a coordinated and balanced approach to better manage the use of antibiotics in humans and food producing animals. The report's recommendations are consistent with recent calls by the World Health Organization (WHO) to reduce world consumption of antibiotics, and support the thrust of the JETACAR for a national antibiotic resistance management program consisting of 5 key elements:

Regulatory controls;
Monitoring and surveillance
Infection Prevention;
Education; and
Research.

The development and implementation of a national antibiotic resistance management program requires commitment across the agricultural and human health sectors at all levels of Government. The Commonwealth Government has undertaken to work with stakeholders to refine, further develop and implement the JETACAR recommendations. A National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Expert Advisory Group on Antibiotic Resistance (EAGAR) will provide continuing scientific and technical advice on antibiotic resistance and related matters. A Commonwealth Interdepartmental JETACAR Implementation Group (CIJIG) was also established to coordinate the continuing Government response to this problem.