World Antimicrobial Awareness Week: Superbug AI project in the spotlight

Professor Anton Peleg, Head of Department of Infectious Diseases,
The Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University)
is lead investigator on the MRFF funded Superbug Ai Flagship project.

18 to 24 November is World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. 

The Honourable Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health said, "I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the work of Professor Anton Peleg.

"Professor Peleg researches ways to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which occurs when germs change over time and no longer respond to medicines like antibiotics.

"He is the lead investigator on the Superbug Ai Flagship project funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), developing innovative approaches for the prevention, detection and treatment of AMR infections. 

"The SuperbugAi Flagship is working to transform health care and improve patient outcomes in Australian hospitals by using artificial intelligence to stop antimicrobial-resistant superbug outbreaks. 

"I am proud that our government is continuing to fund medical research to assist Professors such as Anton Peleg, who play a crucial role in finding ways to reduce the further emergence and spread of AMR."

See Mark Butler's Facebook post

More about World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change over time and no longer respond to medicines, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death. As a result of drug resistance, antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines become ineffective and infections become increasingly difficult or impossible to treat.

A global action plan to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2015. One of the key objectives of the plan is to improve awareness and understanding of AMR through effective communication, education and training.

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign that is celebrated annually to improve awareness and understanding of AMR and encourage best practices among the public, One Health stakeholders and policymakers, who all play a critical role in reducing the further emergence and spread of AMR.