EURL-PH-AMR Objectives and activities

The general objectives of the EURL are to:

• Further strengthening the EU public health microbiology capacity by providing support activities to improve the detection, surveillance and risk assessment of antimicrobial resistant bacteria at national and EU level. This includes external quality assessments, technical harmonisation and training provided to the network members.

• Facilitating technology transition to optimise EU-wide use of whole genome sequencing (WGS) of antimicrobial resistant bacteria for detection, surveillance, and epidemiologic investigations of cross-border outbreaks by providing scientific and technical coordination, capacity building and operational support to network members. Facilitating near real-time data sharing of WGS data for inter-operability between laboratory and public health information systems.

• Strengthening collaboration and integration within and between the public health microbiology networks (EARS-Net and EURGen-Net) coordinated by ECDC and those coordinated by other relevant bodies, including the European Commission, WHO and EFSA, with a particular focus on integration of laboratory activities underpinning EU surveillance of antimicrobial resistant bacteria.

Work packages

The services and activities of the EURL-PH-AMR are organised in horizontal (administrative) and technical work packages in which specific objectives are addressed.

• Horizontal work packages (WP1-WP4):
  The administrative work packages (WP1-WP4) include coordination, dissemination and communication, evaluation and sustainability tasks that underpins the delivery of support for the entire contract.

• Technical work packages are (WP5-WP11):
  The technical work packages (WP5-WP11) can be grouped into three groups on a) diagnostic reference testing, b) quality of diagnostic and typing results, and c) development of NRL capacity and capability for members of EURGen-Net