Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the leading threats to human health. Tackling AMR will require a One Health response, including addressing AMR in the environment. The environmental dimensions of AMR are often neglected in national action plans and investments on AMR. In this course, you will learn why addressing AMR in the environment is essential and gain insights into how action can be taken to prevent and control AMR in the environment at the national level.
Language: English
Health topic
Course information
Course duration: Approximately one and half hours.
Certificates: A Certificate of Achievement will be available to participants who score at least 80% of the total points available on the quiz. Participants who receive a Certificate of Achievement can also download an Open Badge for this course. Click here to learn how.
Acknowledgments: This e-learning course is developed by the World Health Organization with inputs from AMR Quadripartite Organizations including Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Module 5 was also reviewed by Professor Joakim Larsson.
This Open WHO course draws content from three key sources:
- World Health Organization, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations & World Organization for Animal Health. (2020) Technical brief on water, sanitation, hygiene, and wastewater management to prevent infections and reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance;
- United Nations Environment Programme. (2023). Bracing for Superbugs: Strengthening environmental action in the One Health response to antimicrobial resistance;
- and an AMR Quadripartite Webinar Series on AMR in the environment held throughout 2022. https://www.unep.org/events/webinar/antimicrobial-resistance-environment-webinar-series
We would like to acknowledge contributions from experts involved in the webinar series for supporting the consolidation and review of the webinar content for the development of this Open WHO course.
What you'll learn
- Recall the basics of environmental AMR and be able to describe the risks to human and animal health, food systems, environment, livelihoods and economies.
- Describe the key drivers of AMR in the environment and explain what contributes to AMR emergence, spread and transmission in the environment.
- Apply overall environmental approaches to prevent, control and mitigate AMR.
- Demonstrate governance approaches to addressing AMR in the environment and action that can be embedded in national action plan processes to support AMR detection, control and mitigation.
Who this course is for
- The primary audience for this course is all stakeholders involved in addressing AMR at the national level, including those with responsibilities for the environment. The course is also useful to those implementing actions to address AMR in the environment at global and local levels.
Enroll me for this course
Certificate Requirements
- Gain a Record of Achievement by earning at least 80% of the maximum number of points from all graded assignments.
- Gain an Open Badge by completing the course.