Global Antimicrobial Resistance; A Peek in to the GLASS Data

Antibiotic resistance is present in every country. Patients with infection caused by drug-resistant bacteria are at increased risk of worse clinical outcomes and death, and it consume more health-care resources than patients infected with non-resistant bacteria. Coordinated action is required to minimize the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. All countries need national action plans on AMR. Greater innovation and investment are required in research and development of new antimicrobial medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic tools. WHO is providing technical assistance to help countries develop their national action plans, and strengthen their health and surveillance systems so that they can prevent and manage antimicrobial resistance. The Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (GLASS) is a WHO-supported system supports a standardized approach to the collection, analysis and sharing of data related to antimicrobial resistance at a global level to inform decision-making, drive local, national and regional action. Glass now in its early implementation phase which started in 2015 and ends in 2019. During this period, GLASS will provide surveillance and laboratory guidance, tools and support to countries in developing effective AMR surveillance systems. Currently as December 2018 , 71 countries are enrolled in GLASS and 6 are in progress for enrollment in order to enroll in GLASS. These include a mix of countries in different stages of economic development from across all WHO. Key Findings of GLASS are AMR is widespread in both high and low income countries. The most com­monly reported resistant bacte­ria were Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Salmonella spp. There is an alarming spike in the cases resistant to penicillin and ciprofloxacin. Based on surveillance report of implementation phase a new GLASS revision will be published in 2020. World is awaiting for it.