Identifying and Prioritising Behaviours to Slow Antimicrobial Resistance

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Microbiology
• Sociology

Background:

• Australia's unique position of low antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is diminishing.
• Understanding modifiable human behaviors is key to slowing AMR spread.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize public behaviors that can effectively slow the spread of AMR.
• To assess the feasibility and impact of behavioral changes for AMR containment.

Main Methods:

• An interdisciplinary expert workshop identified twelve potential AMR-slowing behaviors.
• A public survey (n=285) assessed current participation, future likelihood, and perceived impact of these behaviors.
• An impact-likelihood matrix prioritized key behaviors.

Main Results:

• Four priority behaviors were identified: avoiding antibiotic pressure on doctors, safe disposal of antimicrobial products, advocating for antibiotic-free meat, and returning unused antibiotics.
• Public engagement and tailored, local approaches are vital for AMR mitigation.

Conclusions:

• Targeting specific, doable public behaviors offers a practical strategy to combat AMR.
• Community education and context-specific interventions are essential for effective AMR stewardship.