Establishing a National Surveillance Strategy for Antimicrobial Resistance in Bioaerosols: Challenges and Pathways

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The presentation will outline the imperative need for a comprehensive national surveillance strategy to monitor antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bioaerosols. Bioaerosols, which include airborne microorganisms, pose significant public health risks, particularly in urban and industrial environments where human exposure can lead to increased infection rates and compromised health outcomes.

Key topics that will be covered include:

• Global challenge of AMR, its impact on public health, and the specific relevance of bioaerosols in AMR transmission.
• Evaluation of existing monitoring efforts and gaps in data related to AMR in bioaerosols within the UK and internationally.
• Proposals for a national surveillance strategy, including methodologies for bioaerosol sampling, analysis techniques, and data integration.
• Importance of interdisciplinary collaboration among governmental bodies, academic institutions, and industry partners to establish effective monitoring frameworks.
• Discussion of the technical, regulatory, and logistical challenges in implementing a national strategy, along with potential solutions and innovations.

The presentation is based on the research and analysis work carried out for the Environment Agency on Antimicrobial resistance in bioaerosols: towards a national surveillance strategy which is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/antimicrobial-resistance-in-bioaerosols-towards-a-national-surveillance-strategy.