Round Table: “Perspectives on Integrating the One Health Approach into Undergraduate and Postgraduate Academic Programmes.”

On 26 November 2020, the Moldavian Biosafety and Biosecurity Association (MDBBA), in partnership with the Republican Association of Veterinary Doctors of Moldova, the Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, the State Agrarian University of Moldova, and the National Agency for Public Health, organized the round table entitled:

“Perspectives on the Introduction of the One Health Approach into Undergraduate and Postgraduate Study Programmes.”

The event was organized within the framework of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week. During the meeting, a number of pressing issues were discussed, including:

  • Antimicrobial resistance – an imminent threat to public health in the 21st century;
  • Strengthening joint efforts to reduce the spread and development of antimicrobial resistance;
  • Perspectives on antimicrobial resistance in the field of animal health;
  • Multidrug-resistant microorganisms – a major global biological risk.
     

For the first time in the Republic of Moldova, the event also addressed the perspective of introducing the new multidisciplinary and multisectoral “One Health” approach. Participants presented arguments in support of this concept and highlighted the importance and necessity of integrating the One Health approach into undergraduate and postgraduate study programmes.

We express our sincere appreciation to the organizers and participants for their valuable contribution to the success of this event.

Online Round Table: “Joining Efforts to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance” – 20 November 2020

On the occasion of World Antimicrobial Awareness Week, the Moldavian Biosafety and Biosecurity Association (MDBBA), in partnership with the Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, organized an online round table on 20 November 2020 entitled:

“Joining Efforts to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance.”

The event was attended by representatives of MDBBA, academic staff from the Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, representatives of the National Agency for Public Health, and students of the same university.

The main objective of the event was to increase awareness of antimicrobial resistance as a major public health challenge and a significant global biological risk.

During the event, several important topics were addressed, including:

  • rational antimicrobial therapy;
  • the role of the microbiology laboratory in the diagnosis, surveillance, and control of antimicrobial resistance;
  • current developments in healthcare-associated infections in the Republic of Moldova;standard precautionary measures. 
     

The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session regarding the topics discussed.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the organizers and participants for their valuable contribution to this event.

Round Table Event – 5 June 2019

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a serious threat to global health, development, and security. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has reported that AMR is already responsible for approximately 33,000 deaths annually in the EU/EEA, predominantly due to healthcare-associated infections.

The burden of infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms in the European population is comparable to the combined burden of influenza, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. Data regarding regional trends in the evolution of antimicrobial resistance among strains involved in infectious diseases were discussed. The importance of the microbiology laboratory in detecting and monitoring antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms was also emphasized.

The microbiology laboratory plays a crucial role in establishing the etiology of communicable diseases and in detecting antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms.

Data on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will serve several important purposes, including:


• supporting the development of national policies on antimicrobial use through the adjustment of guidelines and regulatory frameworks;
• providing evidence for the revision and updating of national clinical protocols;
• supporting AMR control through diagnostic expertise;
• contributing to the identification and investigation of epidemic outbreaks;
• generating evidence-based data for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections;
• supporting the planning and implementation of interventions aimed at controlling these infections.

 

AMR data will also be used by clinicians to guide and optimize empirical antimicrobial therapy; to provide essential information for antibiotic prescribing based on institutional susceptibility patterns; and to support the monitoring of antimicrobial treatment outcomes.

Experts also identified several challenges in obtaining reliable and standardized AMR data, while outlining opportunities for improving data collection, analysis, and reporting.