§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government are taking to reduce the proliferation of drug-resistant bacterium. [73844]
§ Mr. LammyWe are committed to tackling the serious problem of antimicrobial resistance. In 2000, we published the UK Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy and Action Plan which identified three key areas for tackling antimicrobial resistance; surveillance of antimicrobial resistant organisms and use of antimicrobials, promoting prudent antimicrobial use and infection control to contain and prevent the spread of antimicrobial resistant organisms.
More recently, the Chief Medical Officer's infectious disease strategy, published in January 2002, has identified antimicrobial resistance as a priority area for intensified action and a targeted action plan is being developed to build on the existing UK strategy. The new targeted action plan will take into account the views from a range of stakeholders including priorities identified by the recently constituted specialist advisory committee on antimicrobial resistance.