Vaccination, as well as the rational use of antibiotics and other antimicrobials, helps preserve the effectiveness of life-saving medicinal products

On 18-24 November, the Week of Combating Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) takes place around the world.

AMR is one of the global problems of healthcare systems around the world. Microorganisms and bacteria adapt to the action of medicines to such an extent that this leads to reduced effectiveness or even harm, and to an increase in morbidity and mortality associated with resistance to antimicrobial medicinal products.

The Center fully supports the European concepts followed by Ukraine in combating antimicrobial resistance. As an associate member of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA), it supports stimulating global actions and strengthening national commitments toward combating AMR. In particular:

• participation in joint cross-sectoral actions within the “One Health” concept;
• promoting the emergence of new antimicrobial medicines and diagnostics – regulatory flexibility can help bring new products to the market;
• stimulating innovation – new antimicrobials will help to solve economic problems;
• promoting a coordinated global approach – industry representatives, health professionals, world leaders, researchers, and the media must join and contribute to the fight against AMR.

Throughout the year, Center specialists took part in professional trainings of the WHO supporting the implementation of national action plans on antimicrobial resistance.

As part of a multidisciplinary working group on the topic “Rational Antimicrobial Therapy,” with the participation of Center specialists and based on the best world practices, industry standards were developed and approved this year:

• for providing care to patients requiring treatment with antimicrobial agents – “Rational use of antibacterial and antifungal agents for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes” (MoH order No. 823 of 18.05.2022) – measures aimed at reducing the irrational use of antibiotics, limiting the use of certain classes of antibacterial agents, antifungal therapy, and control of adverse reactions.
• for providing care to patients who require surgical interventions – “Parenteral perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis” (MoH order No. 822 of 17.05.2022), which establishes requirements for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in surgical practice and organ transplantation.

As part of the pharmacovigilance system, the Center carries out continuous monitoring of the safety of the use of medicines and vaccines. Vaccination is one of the most effective means of preventing AMR – by preventing severe forms of diseases that require the use of antibiotics, it helps not only to avert the burden of antimicrobial resistance but also to counter the economic burden on the healthcare system.