Abstract
The Thailand Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Containment and Prevention Program, utilizing a One Health approach, has been implementing the following 10 operational actions in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) global action plan on AMR since 2013. They are: 1) estimate the national AMR burden; 2) determine the AMR prevalence and AMR chain in Thailand; 3) develop a national AMR containment and prevention governance structure; 4) develop laboratory and information technology systems for surveillance of AMR, antibiotic use and hospital-acquired infections; 5) regulate the use and distribution of antibiotics in humans and food animals; 6) design AMR containment and prevention campaigns; 7) generate local evidence to promote responsible antibiotic use and infection prevention and control practices; 8) create the AMR campaign packages; 9) implement the AMR campaign packages in selected communities; and 10) conduct research and development of AMR surveillance, diagnostics, and therapy and prevention of AMR infections. The major outputs, outcomes and impacts of the Thailand AMR program are: the magnitude of the AMR burden in Thailand was established; AMR campaign packages for health professionals and laypeople were developed according
to the established AMR chain and AMR prevalence in Thailand; and locally-generated evidence on the responsible use of antibiotics and infection prevention and control (IPC) is available. Implementation of AMR campaign packages in 4 pilot communities revealed their effectiveness in terms of improved awareness and understanding of AMR, responsible use of antibiotics, and compliance with IPC practices. Many containment and prevention measures from the Thailand AMR program have been adopted as national policy and implemented nationally.
