WHOCC-AMR

Overall coordination of WHO AMR Surveillance and Quality Assessment Collaborating Centres Network: Strengthening the global partnership on AMR

Context

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the leading causes of death worldwide, with approximately 4.95 million deaths associated with bacterial AMR in 2019. AMR knows no borders and is internationally recognised as a threat to global health, making it a high public health priority. All countries must collaborate globally to prevent and respond to AMR appropriately. To this end, the WHO AMR Surveillance and Quality Assessment Collaborating Centres Network (WHOCC-AMR) was established in 2016 to promote collective action, aimed at addressing important gaps in AMR surveillance and quality assessment, and to effectively inform public health policy and implementation. This requires increased international collaboration and better coordination across network members and other stakeholders involved in AMR surveillance. Since 2019, the network has been coordinated by the RKI, which was re-designated a specialised WHO Collaborating Centre for AMR, antimicrobial consumption and health care-associated infections (HAIs). Through the project, the RKI continues to fulfil its leadership role and help achieve the network’s goal, which is to support low- and middle-income countries in building capacities for the development and implementation of AMR surveillance. It works closely with professionals within and outside the network to promote the prevention and control of AMR and HAIs in the partner countries.

Objective

Strengthening the RKI in its role as a specialised WHO Collaborating Centre for AMR, especially in its work to coordinate and improve global AMR surveillance by supporting low- and middle-income countries in this field.

In cooperation with

  • World Health Organization (WHO), SPC Department, AMR Division, WHO HQ
  • WHO, IPC Global Unit, SDS/HIS, WHO HQ
  • National Reference Centre for Staphylococci and Enterococci at RKI, Germany
  • WHO AMR Surveillance and Quality Assessment Collaborating Centre Network (WHOCC-AMR)
  • Centre for International Health Protection (ZIG) at RKI, Germany
  • Global Leaders Group on AMR (GLG) at RKI, Germany
  • WHO Global Infection Prevention and Control Network (GIPC) Global Hub

Thematic priorities

  • Clinical management
  • Digital solutions
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Laboratory diagnostics
  • Resolutions and international agreements
  • Strengthening of public health systems

Facts

Duration

01.01.2023 - 31.12.2025

Budget

ca. 700,000 Euro

Partner Countries

  • Worldwide

Implementing Institution

Robert Koch Institute

Contact

Unit 37 Head: Dr. Tim Eckmanns;
Deputy Head of Unit 37: Dr. Muna Abu Sin;
Team lead: Dr. Sara Tomczyk;
Network coordinator: Dr. Arina Zanuzdana;
Project staff: Dr. Anne Harant

Robert Koch Institute (RKI)
Nordufer 20, 13353 Berlin, Germany

AMR-WHOCC@rki.de; EckmannsT@rki.de; Abu-SinM@rki.de; TomczykS@rki.de; ZanuzdanaA@rki.de; HarantA@rki.de

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Activities

  • Training and competence development

    Conducting training and country missions to provide technical expertise; developing a toolkit on AMR to improve country missions.

  • Networking and cooperation

    Coordinating the global AMR surveillance network through strategic planning and network meetings and general management and communication tasks; monitoring and conceptual development of the technical activities of the Collaborating Centre (setting of standards to improve impact).

  • Kapazitätsentwicklung

    Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS): Supporting the implementation of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS) by developing guidelines on diagnostics, surveillance and the use of antibiotics.

    Global Leaders Group (GLG) on AMR: Strengthening the GLG on AMR (consisting of heads of state and ministers).