Infection Prevention and Control, Biosecurity and AMR

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most pressing global health challenges, threatening to undermine decades of medical progress. Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and biosecurity serve as the first line of defence by reducing the incidence and spread of diseases, thereby minimising the need for antibiotics. IPC primarily focuses on healthcare facilities, encompassing practices such as hand hygiene, sterilisation, use of personal protective equipment, and safe waste management to prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Biosecurity extends beyond healthcare, addressing risks in livestock, veterinary settings, laboratories, and the environment, to prevent the introduction and dissemination of resistant pathogens. Weak IPC and biosecurity practices result in increased infections, higher antibiotic consumption, economic losses, and ethical concerns about patient and worker safety. Strengthened IPC and farm-level biosecurity, combined with surveillance, training, and a robust One Health approach, are essential to tackling AMR. Integrating these strategies across human, animal, and environmental domains is critical to reduce reliance on antibiotics, preserve their effectiveness, and safeguard global health.