AmWeb: A novel interactive web tool for antimicrobial resistance surveillance, applicable to both community and hospital patients

摘要

Background:Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is recognized as one of the most significant threats to human health. Local and regionalAMRsurveillance enables the monitoring of temporal changes in susceptibility to antibiotics and can provide prescribing guidance to healthcare providers to improve patient management and help slow the spread of antibiotic resistance in the community. There is currently a paucity of routine community-level AMR surveillance information. Methods:The HPA in England sponsored the development of an AMR surveillance system (AmSurv) to collate local laboratory reports. In theWest Midlands region of England, routine reporting of AMR data has been established via the AmSurv systemfromall diagnostic microbiology laboratories. TheHPARegional Epidemiology Unit developed a web-enabled database application (AmWeb) to provide microbiologists, pharmacists and other stakeholders with timely access to AMR data using user-configurable reporting tools.Results: AmWebwas launched in theWest Midlands in January 2012 and is used by microbiologists and pharmacists to monitor resistance profiles, perform local benchmarking and compile data for infection control reports. AmWeb is now being rolled out to all English regions. Conclusions:It is expected thatAmWebwillbecomeavaluable tool for monitoring the threat fromnewlyemerging or currently circulating resistant organisms and helping antibiotic prescribers to select the best treatment options for their patients.