Taiwan CDC indicates that antimicrobial resistant strain has become widespread due to a number of factors, including aging population, increasing number of chronic disease patients, invasive medical treatments, and overuse of antimicrobial. Further, the resistant strains have quickly transmitted across countries as a result of frequent international travel for surgery. Urgent actions to tackle multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) are necessary for safeguarding the effectiveness of infection-fighting drugs. The growing problem of resistance can only be resolved through global collaboration.
     Combat antimicrobial resistance is the focus of World Health Day 2011. On this occasion, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC), the Nosocomial Infection Control Society of Taiwan, the Infectious Diseases Society of Taiwan, and Mackay Memorial Hospital held a forum on " Antimicrobial Resistance and its Global Spread: Strategies and Actions to Tackle Multidrug-Resistant Microorgaminsms (MDROs)". "The role of hand hygiene for healthcare worker is similar to safety helmet for rider," said Department of Health Director Dr. Wen-Ta Chiu. "Both hand hygiene and safety helmet are important interventions for health with evidence base and cost effectiveness."
     In Taiwan, we have accomplished some achievements in MDROs control and prudent use of antimicrobial agents. To further our work in tackling drug resistance, collaboration among governments, hospitals, academics, and citizen is needed. WHO’s statement on this World Health Day, April 7, 2011 has appealed that "The trends are clear and ominous. No action today means no cure tomorrow".
     A report by the Taiwan Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (TNIS) System shows that the proportion of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has deceased in recent years. However, the proportion of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have increased annually.
     According to national surveillance data, the proportions of MRSA and CRAB in Taiwan were higher than those in US and Europe. The Department of Health (DOH), including the Bureau of Medical Affairs, the Bureau of National Health Insurance, the Food and Drug Administration, and Taiwan CDC, has followed the WHO’s multifaceted strategy to reduce antimicrobial resistance. The strategy encompasses actions such as surveillance for antimicrobial resistance, education of healthcare workers and the public in the appropriate use of antibiotics, enforcing legislation related to stopping the selling of antibiotics without prescription, and improving adherence to infection prevention and control measures. Taiwan is looking forward to work with the rest of the world to act on controlling and preventing healthcare-associated infections and the spread of MDROs.