BSAC Vanguard Series: The future role of laboratories in relation to antimicrobial resistance

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the management of infectious diseases is of global importance. It is clear that a greater more complex pandemic will emerge through antimicrobial resistance (AMR) if we don't embrace the lessons from this one. Earlier diagnostic testing, in the right place at the right time, using data to drive better public health approaches, should be our response. Proactive diagnostics as a paradigm shift from reactive diagnostics are essential and should be factored into the design of future services. By building on and capitalizing on the lessons on how to handle data, deploy technology and understand the spread of disease, we will improve the response of laboratories, and improve patient outcomes, and through that improve public health. The digital tools of the future will be a huge enabler of this, and this will be made more effective though sharing of data seamlessly. Action needs to be taken now to ensure that this change is implemented at the pace required to tackle AMR.