Epidemiological surveillance where extra measures are taken to collect data and confirm diagnoses to ensure more complete reports for surveys and outbreak investigations. Active surveillance encompasses formal and informal communications.

A collection of data, usually in the form of a table, summarising the percentage of individual bacterial pathogens susceptible to different antimicrobial agents. An antibiogram is generated after bacteria are isolated (for example from a patient's tissues or body fluids), and subjected to laboratory testing. 

Any agent used to kill or inhibit the growth of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites). This term applies whether the agent is intended for human, veterinary or agricultural applications.

Quantities of antimicrobials used in a specific setting (total, community, hospital) during a specific period of time (for example, days, months or years).

Infectious microbes that have acquired the ability to survive exposures to clinically relevant concentrations of antimicrobial drugs that would kill otherwise sensitive organisms of the same strain. This term is also used to describe any pathogen that is less susceptible than its counterparts to a specific antimicrobial compound (or combination thereof).

Coordinated interventions designed to promote, improve, monitor and evaluate the judicious use of antimicrobials so as to preserve their future effectiveness and to promote and protect human and animal health. Antimicrobial stewardship encompasses the 5Rs of antimicrobial use (AMU): responsibility, reduction, refinement, replacement and review.

A microbiological test to determine whether bacteria are susceptible or resistant to an antibiotic.

How antimicrobials are used, including treatment goal, treatment of populations versus targeted individuals, duration of use, route of administration, and species treated (that is, human, animal or plant).

Monitors trends in antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in selected bacterial organisms from human, animal and food sources across Canada.

A non-profit US-based organisation that supports the development of scientific and clinical standards and guidelines.

Produced by or involving two or more parties working together.

A programme founded in 1995 that provides a surveillance system for the continuous surveillance and research of antimicrobial consumption (AMC) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

A technical unit of drug consumption, defined as the assumed average maintenance dose per day for a drug used for its main indication in adults.

The largest publicly funded system for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in Europe. Data from EARS-NET play an important role in raising awareness at the political level, among public health officials, in the scientific community and among the general public.

An EU agency aimed at strengthening Europe's defences against infectious diseases.

A standing committee jointly organised by ESCMID, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and European national breakpoint committees. It provides guidelines for conducting and interpreting AST.

An interactive database that provides European reference data on antimicrobial consumption (AMC), both in the community and the hospital sector

The visual AMR platform developed and coordinated by Public Health England (PHE).

A specialised United Nations agency that leads international efforts to defeat hunger.

A system for standardising and sharing surveillance data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) worldwide.

Set up in 2008 and designed in close collaboration with the Dutch Society for Medical Microbiology.

Formally established in 1996 by the WHO/PAHO regional office and partnering member states. The goal was to inform antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prevention and control policies, and interventions in the region through the ongoing collection of reliable, comparable and reproducible AMR data.

A classification based on the World Bank list of analytical income classification of economies.

A microorganism, especially a bacterium causing disease or fermentation.

A collaboration among various stakeholder groups (such as government, civil society and the private sector) and sectors (for example health, environment and economy) to jointly achieve a policy outcome.

A plan for tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a country that is aligned with the Global Action Plan on AMR.

In this module, this term is used to refer to the centre that established and oversees the GLASS platform, the WHO’s recognised national surveillance system. It gathers AMR data from the surveillance sites and national reference laboratories, which it communicates to national policy-makers and global surveillance systems.

In this module, this term is used to refer to the centre or person responsible for collating national data and submitting them to GLASS.

This provides a reference service for other laboratories for confirmatory and/or additional testing of isolates. It may also provide support for quality assurance, standardisation and training.

The specialised international health agency for the Americas. It works with countries throughout the region to improve and protect people's health.

Data is collected through routine testing, usually performed for clinical care.

A survey used to identify all instances of a condition – such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – at a particular point in time.

A survey used to identify all instances of a condition – such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) – at a particular point in time.

Measures designed to preserve health and prevent the spread of disease: protective or preventive treatment.

An executive agency of the UK government’s Department of Health and Social Care, and a distinct organisation with operational autonomy. It provides government, local government, the NHS, Parliament, industry and the public with evidence-based professional, scientific expertise and support.

A system that collects data from a limited number of reporting sites. For example, it may only include a few hospitals within a country or state. This approach is advantageous where it is not feasible to include all reporting sites, or due to constraints of public health resources, such as in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

The ongoing, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health-related data essential to the planning, implementation and evaluation of public health practice.

A highly flexible, metadata-driven system to collect, validate, clean, analyse and disseminate data. Its key aims are data analysis and production of outputs for public health action.

Creating a unity of intellectual frameworks beyond the disciplinary perspectives.

The intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal health worldwide.