Resistant bacteria do not stop at national borders. This is why it is important to collaborate with other countries to fight antimicrobial resistance. If the surrounding countries have lower levels of resistant bacteria, the Netherlands will also benefit.
Resistance rates in the Netherlands are relatively low, compared to other countries. The Netherlands is internationally known for the way we handle antimicrobial resistance. To reduce antimicrobial resistance, the Netherlands has adopted the One Health approach.
One Health
Resistant bacteria are found everywhere – not only in people, but also in animals, plants and the environment. This calls for an integrated approach, known as One Health. This international approach and collaboration make it possible to prevent the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in healthcare, livestock farming, the environment and food.
Collaboration within the European Union
Within the European Union (EU), the Netherlands collaborates with the European Centre for Infectious Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC). Through a large European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net), data is collected on antimicrobial resistance. This gives us a better idea of where antimicrobial resistance is present and which antibiotics still work and where.
RIVM is also part of a European Joint Action on AMR, known as JAMRAI-2. Within this programme, 140 organisations from 30 countries and all One Health domains work together to address the problem of antimicrobial resistance in the EU (European Union ).
Collaboration outside the European Union
The Netherlands works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO), both within Europe and beyond. Since 2012, RIVM has supported WHO in the implementation of national action plans on antimicrobial resistance in other countries. RIVM hosts three WHO collaborating centres related to AMR:
- WHO CC for antimicrobial resistance epidemiology and surveillance.
- WHO CC risk assessment of pathogens in food and water.
- WHO CC for laboratory preparedness and response for high threat pathogens and biorisk.
RIVM helps countries set up and improve national surveillance systems. These networks are used to monitor resistance data per type of bacteria. The Netherlands has been actively involved in setting up an AMR surveillance system for Central Asia and Eastern Europe: the CAESAR network. In addition to activities in the WHO European region, the Netherlands is also working with China, India and Indonesia to share knowledge.
International projects
For more information about international projects on antimicrobial resistance, go to the RIVM international projects database.