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<p>The Government has been at the forefront of action to address antimicrobial resistance
(AMR). The risk of infection from multidrug-resistant bacteria (or “superbugs”) is
not confined to cancer treatment but has implications for a wide range of medical
treatments and interventions, including routine surgery.</p><p> </p><p>The UK Five
Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy, published in 2013, set out an ambitious programme
to slow the development and spread of AMR taking a “One-Health” approach spanning
people, animals, agriculture and the wider environment.</p><p> </p><p>The Strategy
seeks to prevent infection, protect the antibiotics that we have and promote the development
of new drugs and alternative treatments. Progress on these actions has been reported
in the Second Annual Progress report available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/progress-report-on-the-uk-5-year-amr-strategy-2015"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/progress-report-on-the-uk-5-year-amr-strategy-2015</a></p><p>
</p><p>In September 2016, the Government published its response to the Independent
Review on AMR, led by Lord O’Neill. This is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-the-review-on-antimicrobial-resistance"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-response-the-review-on-antimicrobial-resistance</a></p><p>
</p><p>The response sets out further ambitions to address the challenges of antimicrobial
resistance, including the following domestic ambitions:</p><p>- A reduction in healthcare
associated Gram-negative bloodstream infections in England by 50% by 2020; and</p><p>-
A reduction in inappropriate antibiotic prescribing by 50%, with the aim of being
a world leader in reducing prescribing by 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Internationally, the
UK continues to lead in tackling AMR through globally co-ordinated and sustainably
funded action. In September 2016, the Government’s leadership helped secure a UN declaration
on AMR and a commitment from the G20 to look at solutions to the market failure on
the development of new antimicrobials.</p>
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