Professor Brett Sutton
Hello, I’m Professor Brett Sutton, Victoria’s Chief Health Officer.
Antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics, have treated infections for many decades and saved millions of lives.
The problem is the microbes that these antimicrobial medicines were designed to treat, are rather clever.
Microbes including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites can adapt, find new ways to survive, and become resistant to antimicrobial medicines.
When those medicines stop working, infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.
This is what’s known as antimicrobial resistance (or AMR) – and it’s been declared one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity by the World Health Organization.
Globally, at least 700,000 people die every year from drug-resistant infections - and unless we take action now, this number could reach ten million by 2050.
AMR is a complex problem requiring a united ‘One Health’ approach, with collaboration between relevant sectors including food, agriculture, environment, animal and human health.
This is why the Victorian Government is bringing these sectors and the Victorian public together to develop Victoria’s first Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy.
Dr Simone Warner
Hello, I’m Dr Simone Warner, Director of Applied Sciences at Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA).
Antimicrobial resistance (or AMR) is often thought of as a problem in hospitals, however it is also present in the environment.
Antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotics can enter the environment through wastewater from sewage treatment plants, and solid wastes such as biosolids, compost, animal by products and manure. Pollution such as chemicals and heavy metals can also drive environmental microorganisms to develop resistance to antibiotics.
Once AMR enters the environment it can be spread widely by water, wind, and animals, potentially infecting humans, their pets and farm animals.
We know that preventing it from entering the environment in the first place is a critical step to take, but there is lots more we need to learn and do, so we’re working with others in the environmental sector and across government on this important strategy.
Dr Graeme Cooke
Hello, I’m Dr Graeme Cooke, Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer.
The emergence of antimicrobial resistance is also a real and growing threat for animals – for our pets, our livestock and wildlife.
Antibiotic resistant infections have already been reported at low levels in a number of species such as dogs, horses and pigs, and that’s for the same reason they have been found in people – overuse and misuse. But being able to keep using antibiotics is key to our ability to treat disease.
On our farms, reducing AMR requires a comprehensive approach. Because AMR is predicted to decrease livestock production by up to 7.5% at the global level over the next 30 years if we do not take action.
Reducing the risk of AMR in all animals in Australia will provide many health, welfare and economic benefits for both animals and humans.
But combatting antimicrobial resistance is not just about the use antibiotics for animals and humans – it’s about conserving a very precious resource for all of society’s future needs – your future.
Reviewed 16 February 2023