MAVIS Hub Edition 130

The UK-VARSS Report 2022 was updated on 13 March 2024 to include Chapter 4 – Clinical surveillance of antibiotic resistance. Clinical surveillance aims to provide veterinarians with relevant treatment information using results from bacteria isolated from diagnostic samples. Resistance was usually highest to the most commonly used antibiotics: aminopenicillins and tetracyclines.

3.2 AMR National Action Plan 2024-2029

The AMR National Action Plan 2024-2029 is now published. This action plan is co-owned by DHSC and Defra and has been developed through cross-UK working between the UK Government and Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and sets out our comprehensive One Health approach to tackle AMR.

3.3 International Engagement

UNGA AMR High-Level Meeting 2024

VMD and DHSC are continuing with preparations for the AMR High-Level Meeting at the UN General Assembly in 2024.

AMR team visit to China 15 -19 January

With the support of the Global Health team at the British Embassy in Beijing, a joint delegation of technical and policy experts from the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and external academics visited China to engage with Chinese counterparts on technical discussions.

3.4 Surveillance Activities

PATH-SAFE

Sampling has been completed for all of the PATH-SAFE AMR projects. Analysis and write-up of results is underway. The PATH-SAFE programme has been funded to continue for an additional year. This continuation will extend AMR projects on raw pet food, wastewater, and additional bioinformatics work on AMR data. VMD AMR team members attended the PATH-SAFE Biosurveillance conference on 28 and 29 February and presented the various AMR focused projects carried out within PATH-SAFE.

National Biosurveillance Network

Alpha phase will formally commence in April 2024. VMD is working with APHA on one workstream of NBN, to investigate barriers and incentives to AMR data sharing between private veterinary labs and government. This builds upon existing work conducted through the Private Laboratories Initiative (PLI).

Upcoming research call

The AMR Surveillance team are commissioning research to pilot different approaches to surveillance of antibiotic resistance in healthy dogs, cats and horses in the UK. This will contribute to informing the development of representative UK-wide surveillance of antibiotic resistance in healthy companion animals and equines. Details of this upcoming research can be accessed on Contracts Finder.

3.5 Antibiotic Usage and Stakeholder Engagement

The antibiotic use, stewardship and stakeholder engagement team continue to work closely with a range of stakeholders to ensure that the updated Veterinary Medicines Regulations, as they relate to AMR, are fit for purpose and clear. This includes working with stakeholders to develop templates for farm-level management reviews, working with the VMD’s Enforcement Team and developing guidance alongside the legislation.

Since January 2024, the antimicrobial use and stewardship team have developed and delivered veterinary undergraduate training lectures and interactive case studies on AMR and stewardship at 4 different veterinary schools.

3.6 Defra Antimicrobial Resistance Coordination (DARC) 12 March

The meeting included an update on recent findings from across the UK on AMR in bacteria of importance to animal and public health. An update and discussion on the development of the 2024 to 2029 AMR National Action Plan (NAP) was held and an overview of the EU’s new methods for calculating antimicrobial consumption was given. A guest presenter from UKHSA provided insight into the key findings of a joint UKHSA/APHA project looking into Salmonella from dogs. Additionally, the VMD provided an update on the Veterinary Medicines Regulations. The next meeting is scheduled to take place on 6 June 2024. Minutes from previous meetings are available on GOV.UK.