Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious health threats worldwide and it has
become more intense to day-to-day concerns. Excessive and inappropriate uses of antimicrobial are
main drivers of the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. To optimize use of antimicrobial agents in
human and animal, as recommended by the Global Action Plan on AMR, countries need to develop
and sustain the system which monitors antimicrobial consumption in human and animal and disseminate
for policy decision. Hence, national surveillance of antimicrobial consumption is an important
tool to provide these useful evidences to policy makers and relevant AMR agencies on antimicrobial
consumption in humans and animals and its distribution at the national level.
The objective of this paper is to review surveillance systems of antimicrobial consumption in
European countries and to explore the possibility of establishment of the Thai Surveillance of Antimicrobial
Consumption (Thai-SAC) in humans and animals. Developed countries, including European
countries have institutionalized capacities to sustain SAC system and ensure policy uses. In Thailand,
with the application of experiences and guidelines from the European SAC and European Surveillance
of Veterinary Antimicrobial Consumption, the national SAC covering human and animal sector
consumptions are in development process by the Thai working group consisting of multi-sectoral,
multi-disciplinary researchers and key stakeholders particularly the Thai Food and Drug Administration.
In human sector, the current estimate of human medicine consumption including antibiotics in
monetary value does not provide data on the volume of consumption hence unable to monitor the
use of antibiotics and benchmark with other countries in particular European countries. The challenges
for Thai-SAC include law and enforcement on antimicrobial regulation, and the relevant database of
antimicrobial consumption in human and animal populations in Thailand.
