Résistance aux antimicrobiens

ACT project: Ability of Bolivia and Colombia to detect AMR in food assessed

06/04/2023

Two countries in Latin America now know more about their national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) situation and the next steps in detecting AMR to ensure safe food. Bolivia and Colombia finished assessments of their AMR surveillance system and selected laboratories as part of the “Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts (ACT)” project. More than 70 professionals attended the workshops and laboratory visits held in Bolivia from 7 to 10 March, and in Colombia from 13 to 17 March 2023. 

“Nearly 5 million human deaths every year are associated with antimicrobial resistance. There is no time to wait, we need to ACT now. The assessments helped the countries to identify priority recommendations that will contribute to strengthening AMR monitoring and surveillance. Although AMR surveillance systems have been implemented in some countries, the lack of knowledge of existing networks in the agriculture sector is frequent,“ said Alejandro Dorado García, FAO Animal Health Officer, who coordinates global AMR surveillance activities.  

He noted that surveillance is considered one of the cornerstones to managing AMR in food and agriculture, and it can provide information for action in supporting national and international strategies. To help countries in this process, FAO uses its Assessment Tool for Laboratories and Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Systems (ATLASS). The tool has been already deployed in more than 55 countries and more than 200 laboratories​ around the world. This was the first time the Spanish version of this tool was applied face-to-face in the world. 

“This FAO-ATLASS tool helps us to implement a national surveillance system and create a network of laboratories to address AMR issues,“ saidJorge Berrios,National Project Coordinator in Bolivia. 

The team assessed three laboratories in Bolivia and four in Colombia involved in AMR surveillance. This assessment focused on reference laboratories and those laboratories that could be part of the surveillance network for AMR. 

“Thanks to this, in Colombia, we identified our strengths and opportunities for improvements in the AMR surveillance programs  in the food chain, also priorities within the "One Health" approach,“ said Ana Carrizosa,National Project Coordinator in Colombia.  

The ATLASS mission concluded in each country with a closing workshop to discuss the findings. The FAO team recommended areas for improvement including formalizing the roles of the multisectoral working group on AMR and adopting measures to strengthen data production, collection and analysis, along with establishing communication policies among stakeholders. 

Foodborne AMR is a food safety issue. The implementation of Codex AMR standards reduces the emergence and transmission of AMR in food systems, thereby protecting consumer health and ensuing fair trade practices. The ACT project is supporting the implementation of Codex standards not only in Bolivia and Colombia but also in Cambodia, Mongolia, Nepal, and Pakistan.

For more information about the project, please read here

 

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