The National Public Health Emergency Team on Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) held their third meeting today, 16 November 2017.
CPE is a superbug resistant to most or all antibiotics. This week, from 13-19 November, marks World Antibiotic Week. The Director General of the World Health Organization has emphasised that antibiotic or antimicrobial resistance is a global crisis we cannot ignore. Ireland is responding to this issue, in a real and tangible way, at a national level, through the work of the Public Health Emergency Team on CPE. The group will oversee and provide expert advice, guidance, support and direction for the overall national response to contain CPE in cognisance of implementation of the objectives, interventions and activities in Ireland’s National Action on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2020.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tony Holohan, who is Chair of the group updated that “the establishment of the National Public Health Emergency Team and its membership has been progressing since the public health emergency plan was activated on 25th October. The Department of Health recognises the importance of patients as partners to ensure patient safety and I am now in a position to say that we have patient representatives who joined as members of the group. Their insights and experience will ensure that the national response to CPE has the patient at the centre”.
The Terms of Reference for the group include conducting an on-going situational analysis and evaluation having regard to reports received, expert advice, international guidance and assurance regarding optimal use of resources. This requires a flow of information between the HSE and the Department of Health. This knowledge gathering process is underway and information is reviewed at the weekly meetings.
A dedicated page on the Department of Health website is regularly updated and includes the Terms of Reference for the National Public Health Emergency Team and minutes of previous meetings.
#StopSuperbugs
#AntibioticResistance
Notes to the Editor
http://health.gov.ie/national-patient-safety-office/patient-safety-surveillance/antimicrobial-resistance-amr-2/public-health-emergency-plan-to-tackle-cpe/ What is World Antibiotic Week?
During World Antibiotic Awareness week, 13-19 November 2017, World Health Organization (WHO) and partners will reach out to the general public, health professionals, governments, farmers, veterinarians, the food and feed industry and others via a social media campaign using infographics, quizzes, and success stories to raise awareness of the need to act on antibiotic resistance and what kinds of steps we can take. http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week/2017/launch-event/en/
What is CPE?
Carbapenemase Producing Enterobacteriaceae CPE (also referred to as carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)) is a superbug resistant to most or all antibiotics. It is carried in the bowel and can cause blood stream infection in people who are vulnerable, such as the elderly and those with low immunity.
CPE are gram-negative bacteria that are carried in the gut and are resistant to most, and sometimes all, available antibiotics. CPE are an established threat to human health, particularly in hospital settings. They are shed in the faeces and transmitted by direct and indirect contact. A period of 4 weeks or more may elapse between that contact that results in acquisition of the organism and the time at which CPE becomes detectable in the faeces of the contact. More than half of all patients who develop blood stream infections with CPE die as a result of their infection.
CPE has been identified throughout the world in recent years. Ireland has seen an increase in the number of cases year on year. The number of cases almost doubled in 2016 and is estimated to increase by a further third in 2017. The spread of this superbug in hospitals can lead to the closure of beds, wards and units removing thereby, essential capacity to provide services, to admit patients from Emergency Departments and to address waiting lists effectively.
Public Health and microbiological advice indicates that the opportunity remains for effective interventions to be taken which can protect our patients, protect our hospital capacity from unplanned closures and ultimately lead to a halting or reduction in the spread of this superbug.
What is a public health emergency?
A public health emergency is described as any serious or unexpected event, due to an infectious disease, which causes, or threatens to cause, death or serious illness to large sections of the population, an individual region or a specific cohort of individuals and which will have a major impact on the normal functioning of the health system and on society in general.
What is the Public Health Emergency Plan?
The Department of Health’s National Health Emergency Plan is a plan for activation in the event of a national/large-scale public health emergency in the event of an infectious disease outbreak or similar health issue. The purpose of the plan is to assist all health agencies in the State to respond to a public health emergency in an integrated and co-ordinated manner.
The National Public Health Emergency Team was convened as a result of the activation of the Public Health Emergency Plan, on 25 October 2017, by the Minister for Health (Mr Simon Harris, TD) as a public health response to CPE in Ireland.
What is AMR?
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is resistance of a microorganism to a drug that was originally effective for treatment of infections caused by that microorganism. Resistant microorganisms (including bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites) are able to withstand attack by antimicrobial drugs, such as antibacterial drugs (e.g., antibiotics), antifungals, antivirals, and antimalarials, so that standard treatments become ineffective and infections persist, increasing the risk of spread to others.
The evolution of resistant strains is a natural phenomenon that occurs when microorganisms replicate themselves erroneously or when resistant traits are exchanged between them. The use and misuse of antimicrobial drugs accelerates the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Poor infection control practices, inadequate sanitary conditions and inappropriate food handling encourage the further spread of AMR.
What is the National Action on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2020 (iNAP)?
Ireland’s National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2020 aims to implement policies and actions to prevent, monitor and combat AMR across the health, agricultural and environmental sectors. Reducing the inappropriate use of antimicrobial medicines, as well as preventing infections and disease, is vital to stop the development and spread of resistant microorganisms.
It provides an overview for the health, agricultural and environmental sectors. It presents key strategic interventions for tackling antibmicrobial resistance in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) requirements across the three sectors. These interventions represent Ireland’s commitment to the development and implementation of a holistic, cross-sectoral ‘One Health’ approach to the problem of antimicrobial resistance.
What are healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs)?
A healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) is an infection that is acquired after contact with the healthcare services. This is most frequently after treatment in a hospital, but can also happen after treatment in outpatient clinics, nursing homes and other healthcare settings. Healthcare-associated infections that are picked up in hospital are also known as "hospital-acquired infections".