Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing problem throughout the world. Insight into current national AMR problems is a prerequisite for an effective and targeted approach to AMR. However, not all European countries have a national surveillance network for AMR as yet. This was the reason for setting up the CAESAR project.

AMR surveillance network

The aim of the CAESAR project is to strengthen national surveillance of AMR in the non-EU European Union (European Union ) countries of Europe by providing technical support in the field of laboratory methods, surveillance methodology and ICT. The ultimate objective is to set up a network of national surveillance systems so that the trends in AMR can be compared across all European countries. The methods used in CAESAR have been developed in close collaboration with EARS-Net at ECDC, the European Union’s surveillance network for antimicrobial resistance, which means that it will be possible to compare data from the two surveillance networks.

Joint initiative

The CAESAR project is a collaboration between RIVM, ESCMID (European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease) and World Health Organization Europe (WHO Europe).

RIVM Role

RIVM provides technical advice on surveillance methodology and technical support (including data management, data quality control and data analysis and interpretation) within the CAESAR project. RIVM has longstanding experience with the European surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and was the initiator of EARSS, the forerunner of EARS-Net. 

Publication

The EARS-Net and CAESAR annual report on antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Europe 2023 -2021 is available as download.