Source: European Parliament
Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a major pillar of the EU efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), given that over 70% of its health impact is linked to healthcare-associated infections (HAI)[1].
The Commission, together with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is working on EU Guidelines for IPC in human health.
Action on IPC is also part of the EU co-funded joint action on AMR with a budget of EUR 62.5 million[2]. In addition, IPC forms an integral part of the prevention, preparedness, and response planning capacities of Member States, pursuant to the regulation on serious cross-border health threats[3].
These capacities, together with capacities on AMR and HAI, are subject to regular ECDC assessments and possible Commission recommendations to support Member State action[4].
The Commission also funds research and development activities through the research and innovation framework programmes[5] and, develops and implements, in close collaboration with Member States, innovative actions to secure the availability and accessibility of antimicrobials and other AMR medical countermeasures.
The proposal for the reform of the pharmaceutical legislation[6] is expected to offer additional opportunities for tackling AMR once adopted.
The 2023 Council Recommendation on stepping up EU actions to combat AMR in a One Health approach[7] sets various targets regarding AMR and human health that go in the same direction as the United Nations political declaration adopted in September 2024[8].
The Commission, together with EU agencies, is closely following Member States’ progress, and regularly exchanges with Member States’ competent authorities on best practices and follow-up actions in the AMR One Health Network.
- [1] https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/EAAD-infographic-2022.pdf
- [2] EU JAMRAI 2, https://eu-jamrai.eu/prevention-control/
- [3] Regulation (EU) 2022/2371 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2371/oj
- [4] As per Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EU) 2022/2371.
- [5] https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/health/antimicrobial-drug-resistance-amr_en
- [6] https://health.ec.europa.eu/medicinal-products/pharmaceutical-strategy-europe/reform-eu-pharmaceutical-legislation_en
- [7] Council Recommendation on stepping up EU actions to combat antimicrobial resistance in a One Health approach C 220, 22.6.2023, p. 1.
- [8] https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/world-leaders-commit-decisive-action-antimicrobial-resistance#:~:text=New%20York%2C%2026%20September%202024%20%E2%80%93%20Global%20leaders,reducing%20the%20estimated%204.95%20million%20human%20deaths%20