Antimicrobial use and resistance rates

Since 2019, there has been an encouraging 18% decrease in Australia’s antimicrobial use in the community; however, the country continues to have one of the highest anti­microbial prescribing rates in the world, particularly for hospital antimicrobial use, says the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care report, AURA 2023: Fifth Australian Report on Anti­microbial Use and Resist­ance in Human Health. The report highlights the importance of continuing surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and infections, antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control. Access the report via the Commission’s website: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au.