The celebrating of this wonderful holiday is one of our most warm and heartfelt traditions. It has being transmitted from generation to generation, and unites all of us.

The year 2016 stayed in the past. Last year, we had to face the problems and take the challenge of  serious tests related to the temporary occupation of the eastern regions of Ukraine and Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Ukraine always becomes unified and cohesive in the days of trial. The difficulties that we faced have rallied us; have prompted to open hidden reserves of our abilities to move forward into the European family.

At the same time, we have achieved a lot in the past year: our country has become something better, richer, and more convenient, insistently defends their interests in international affairs. And so, today we, in spite of everything, we are sincerely rejoice that New Year has come, and we are met it with hope and dreams of the future.

We are optimistic about the future, and sincerely believe in the best, in luck and success. And each of us understands that prosperity does not come by itself: it is achieved as a result of hard work and personal achievements, in an effort to be sure to implement the planned. Because of these achievements formed the fate of our motherland and taking care of the family, children, parents are inextricably linked with responsibility for Ukraine – for the country, where we live, we love and we want to see a successful and prosperous.

These feelings and aspirations have fastened our unity. And only together we will be strong and able to provide forward movement of Ukraine to enforce our common plans and ideas.

Dear friends! In the coming year we have to do a lot: in science, education, medicine, in improving the quality of medical services, in  ensuring infectious safety, in developing of appropriate standards and in providing the adaptation of the laws within the EU-Ukraine agreement.

New Year night – a time when we understand of how close we are. And let thank each other for understanding and supporting, for love and care. In the bustle of everyday life, we rarely do it. But it is precisely the support of relatives and reliable friends always give us the self-confidence, and desire to give them more than received from them.

I wish to all of you health and happiness! Let every home will be a lot of joy, and in every family will be agreement and well-being!

Happy New 2017 year!

 
Aidyn Salmanov,
Professor, MD, Dr. Sc.,
Head of the Department of Microbiology and Epidemiology of Shupyk National Medical Academy of postgraduate education,
Chairman of Ukrainian National Committee of Infection Control (UCIC) and Antimicrobial Resistance (UCAST),National coordinator of Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control

At the event delivered a speech head of the National Committee of Ukraine on Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, Head of the Department of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, Professor Aidyn Salmanov. He informed the round table participants on the incidence of healthcare- associated infections and trends of antibiotic resistance in pathogens of these infections in Ukraine.

Professor Aidyn Salmanov presented the book “Antimicrobial resistance and healthcare- associated infections in Ukraine. Epidemiological report of the multicenter study”, which presents the results of epidemiological analysis of the incidence of nosocomial infections and antibiotic resistance of pathogens in Ukraine for 2010-2014 years. The book also presents recommendations for improving the epidemiological surveillance system and enhance the effectiveness of the complex of preventive and anti-epidemic measures aimed at curbing the emergence and spread of resistant strains of microorganisms.

The event was attended by deputies of Ukraine, representatives of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of Health, other relevant ministries and agencies, public health departments of regional state administrations, the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine, higher medical educational institutions, medical institutions, associations, representatives of international organizations and the media.

The event was organized as a part of implementation of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU, WHO Global Strategy of containment of antimicrobial resistance, the Global Action Plan approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2015, and the preparation of Ukraine’s access to the Central Asian and Eastern European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (CAESAR) and European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net).

The symposium was held in the conference hall of Shupyk National Medical University of Postgraduate Education (25^th April) and in the conference hall “Cosmopolite” in Kiev and, via video connection, with other cities: Odessa, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Lvov, Minsk (Belarus) and Karaganda (Kazakhstan) (26^th April).

More than 1200 doctors participated in the event, including the main doctors, surgeons, ICU practitioners, obstetricians-gynecologists, neonatologists, orthopedists, pediatricians, general practitioners, infection prevention specialists, PhD students, university associates and other specialists interested in this area of healthcare. Also the elements of professional medical development were included in the scientific panel.

Before the symposium started, heads of the Ukrainian Association of Infection Control and antimicrobial resistance and the Polish fond “Infection Prevention Institute” signed the cooperation agreement in the area of science, education and healthcare.

During the symposium opening ceremony the participants were welcomed by the National Medical University of Postgraduate Education vice-chancellor of the educational issues, prof. Raisa Moiseenko. She also relayed the welcome from the National Medical University of Postgraduate Education chancellor, Yuriy Voronenko.

On behalf of the organizer, the participants were greeted by Aidyn Salmanov, the head  of the Department of Microbiology, Epidemiology and infection control of the Shupyk National Medical University of Postgraduate Education and the head of the Ukrainian Association of Infection Control and Antimicrobial Resistance. Profesor Aidyn Salmanov is also performing the role of a head of the Ukrainian National Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (UCAST) and the Ukrainian National Committee of Infection Control (UCIC). During his speech he presented his latest book for the postgraduate education and training (Educational manual) “Infection control and antimicrobial resistance”.  He stressed it is the issue first of a kind, following the educational program of European Union countries.

Professor Pawel Grzesiowski, the head of the Polish Association of the healthcare hygiene and the president of the Infection prevention institute foundation read the lecture “Epidemiological threats linked to hospital environment”.

The topics discussed during the conference included the current state of the antimicrobial resistance and infection control in Ukraine, the possibilities of legislation harmonization between Ukraine and the EU in education and healthcare, introducing international standards in Ukraine (ISO, EN) with the goal to ensure patient safety, infection prevention and prevention of the antimicrobial resistance in healthcare.

The main goal of the event was to develop knowledge on rational use of antimicrobial substances and patient safety among medical doctors, as a part of implementation of agreement between Ukraine and EU in the healthcare area.

The discussed topics included:

– introduction of the monitoring systems for antimicrobial resistance (CAESAR and EARS-Net) in Ukraine;

– introduction of EUCAST in Ukraine (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing)standards;

– preparation of the hospital forms of antimicrobial drugs, following the evidence-based medicine;

– contemporary approach towards the rational use of antimicrobial drugs;

–prevention and treatment of the hospital acquired infections;

–the latest antimicrobial substances to manage HAI and external infections, caused by the multiresistant microorganisms;

– the latest ways of control and infection prevention in hospitals – international experience.

After the symposium the participants received certificates.

The symposium is held with the aim of the realisation of the Association Agreement of Ukraine and EU, WHO Global Strategy of containment of antimicrobial resistance, the Global Action Plan approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2015, and the preparation of Ukraine’s accession to the Central Asian and Eastern European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (CAESAR) and European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net).

Symposium organizers are Ukrainian Association of infection control and antimicrobial resistance, National Medical Academy of  Postgraduate Education named after PL Schupik, the Ukrainian Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (UCAST) and the Ukrainian Committee of infection control (UCIC).

Scientific and practical symposium will take place with the assistance of modern interactive technologies and telecommunications on April 25-26, 2016, in the format of a telebridge in Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Tbilisi (Georgia), Minsk (Belarus), Karaganda (Kazakhstan) . Expected number of guests of the symposium – more than 1,500 doctors.

Registration from 8.00 to 10.00. Beginning at 10.00.

Place:

April 25, Kyiv conference room NMAPE named PL Schupik, Dorogozhitskaya str., 9 (entrance from the Oranzhereina street).

April 26 the symposium will be held in the form of a telebridge connecting the following cities of Ukraine:

Kyiv – Vadym Hetman str., 6, shopping mall “Cosmopolit”,  the new Congress Hall, 5th floor (entrance through cinema “Butterfly”);

Kharkiv – Medical Center “Time” Sumskaya str., 72, 2nd floor, Commerce Office Center «Platinum Plaza»;

Lviv – Hotel “Lviv”, Chornovil Avenue, 7, New Conference Hall, 1st floor;

Odessa – hotel “London”,  Primorskiy boulevard, 11;

Dnipropetrovsk, «LUCIA» Banquet Hall, Kamchatka str., 63.

We invite to participate in the symposium medical officers, surgeons, anestesiologists, gynecologists, neonatologists, physicians, pediatricians, family doctors, infectiologists, bacteriologists, specialists in infection control, epidemiologists, scientists, students, interns and other professionals interested in this field of medicine. Forum will include thematic elements of professional improvement for medical practitioners. All participants will receive certificates of Symposium.

The main aim is to raise awareness of health managers and health practitioners of the rational use of antimicrobial agents and infectious safety of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. These activities of the symposium is public and free for physicians, medical specialists of the sphere, professional medical associations.

As part of the symposium will be discussed:

- The implementing in Ukraine the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance CAESAR and EARS-Net;

– Implementation of standards in Ukraine the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) – international experience;

– Development of hospital antimicrobial formularies on the principles of evidence-based medicine;

– A modern approach to the rational use of antimicrobial agents;

– Healthcare – associated infections, their prevention and treatment;

– The latest modern antimicrobials in the fight against nosocomial infections and community-acquired infections caused by multidrug resistant microorganisms;

– The latest modern methods of control and prevention of infections associated with medical help – international experience.

We invite you to participate in the symposium. More details of the symposium program you could find on the website of the Ukrainian Association of Infection Control and Antimicrobial Resistance.

Professor Aidyn Salmanov,

Chairman of the Ukrainian Association of Infection Control and antimicrobial resistance

Chairman of the Ukrainian National Committee on antimicrobial resistance (UCAST) and infection control (UCIC),

Head of the Department of Microbiology, Epidemiology and Infection Control Schupik National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education

We are pleased to inform you that Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education in cooperation with the Public Organization “Ukrainian Association of Infection Control and Antimicrobial Resistance” will hold All-Ukrainian and international research and practical conference entitled “The Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance and Rational Use of Antimicrobial Agents” on the 25^th-26^th of November, 2015 in teleconference format with Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv within the realisation of  basic principles of the WHO Global Strategy for Containment of Antimicrobial Resistance, the Global action plan on antimicrobial resistance, adopted by World Health Assembly in May 2015, regarding preparations to joining Ukraine to the network of Central Asian and Eastern European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (CAESAR) and European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net).

The conference programme includes reports of the WHO representatives, experts from Ukraine, Belorussia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, India and Poland.

We are happy to invite you to take part in opening of the forum which will be held on 25^th of November in 2015 in the Conference hall of the Academy at the address: 9 Dorohozhytska str. Kyiv. Forum will be held 26^th of November in the Conference hall of Business Centre “Incom” at the address: 31-33 Smolenska str. Kyiv. The conference starts at 10 a.m.

Antimicrobial resistance is resistance of a microorganism to an antimicrobial drug that was originally effective for treatment of infections caused by it.

Resistant microorganisms (including bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites) are able to withstand attack by antimicrobial drugs, such as antibacterial drugs (e.g. antibiotics), antifungals, antivirals, and antimalarials, so that standard treatments become ineffective and infections persist, increasing the risk of spread to others.

The evolution of resistant strains is a natural phenomenon that occurs when microorganisms replicate themselves erroneously or when resistant traits are exchanged between them. The use and misuse of antimicrobial drugs accelerates the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Poor infection control practices, inadequate sanitary conditions and inappropriate food-handling encourage the further spread of antimicrobial resistance.

What is the difference between antibiotic and antimicrobial resistance?

Antibiotic resistance refers specifically to the resistance to antibiotics that occurs in common bacteria that cause infections. Antimicrobial resistance is a broader term, encompassing resistance to drugs to treat infections caused by other microbes as well, such as parasites (e.g. malaria), viruses (e.g. HIV) and fungi (e.g. Candida).

Why is antimicrobial resistance a global concern?

New resistance mechanisms emerge and spread globally threatening our ability to treat common infectious diseases, resulting in death and disability of individuals who until recently could continue a normal course of life.

Without effective anti-infective treatment, many standard medical treatments will fail or turn into very high risk procedures.

Antimicrobial resistance kills

Infections caused by resistant microorganisms often fail to respond to the standard treatment, resulting in prolonged illness, higher health care expenditures, and a greater risk of death.

As an example, the death rate for patients with serious infections caused by common bacteria treated in hospitals can be about twice that of patients with infections caused by the same non-resistant bacteria. For example, people with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, another common source of severe infections in the community and in hospitals) are estimated to be 64% more likely to die than people with a non-resistant form of the infection.

Antimicrobial resistance hampers the control of infectious diseases

Antimicrobial resistance reduces the effectiveness of treatment; thus patients remain infectious for a longer time, increasing the risk of spreading resistant microorganisms to others. For example, the emergence of Plasmodium falciparummultidrug resistance, including resistance to ACTs in the Greater Mekong subregion is an urgent public health concern that is threatening global efforts to reduce the burden of malaria.

Although MDR-TB is a growing concern, it is still largely under-reported, compromising control efforts.

Antimicrobial resistance increases the costs of health care

When infections become resistant to first-line drugs, more expensive therapies must be used. A longer duration of illness and treatment, often in hospitals, increases health care costs as well as the economic burden on families and societies.

Antimicrobial resistance jeopardizes health care gains to society

The achievements of modern medicine are put at risk by antimicrobial resistance. Without effective antimicrobials for prevention and treatment of infections, the success of organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy and major surgery would be compromised.

A global action plan to tackle the growing problem of resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial medicines was endorsed at the Sixty-eighth World Health Assembly in May 2015. One of the key objectives of the plan is to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance through effective communication, education and training.

The theme of the campaign, Antibiotics: Handle with Care, reflects the overarching message that antibiotics are a precious resource and should be preserved. They should be used to treat bacterial infections, only when prescribed by a certified health professional. Antibiotics should never be shared and the full course of treatment should be completed – not saved for the future.

Ukrainan Association of Infection Control and Antimicrobial Resistance is encouraging all health partners to join this campaign and help raise awareness of this issue.

The strain was isolated from two children in Zakarpatskaya oblast, in south-western Ukraine. One child was 4 years old and the other 10 months old at the time of onset of paralysis; neither had been vaccinated against polio.

Circulation of cVDPV occurred because of the low immunization coverage in Ukraine since 2008. In 2014, only 49% of children were fully vaccinated against polio. Currently, the rate of vaccination against polio among children under 1 year old is only 14.1%, because of a shortage of vaccine.

WHO and UNICEF are providing the Ministry of Health with both technical and on-site support in planning and implementing large-scale supplementary immunization activities with oral polio vaccine (OPV) to rapidly stop circulation of the virus. OPV is the most effective vaccine for stopping the spread of poliovirus and ensuring collective immunity.

WHO recommends that all countries, in particular those from which there is frequent travel and contacts with polio-affected countries and areas, strengthen surveillance for cases of acute flaccid paralysis and maintain high routine immunization coverage. All travellers to polio-affected areas should be fully vaccinated against polio.

Based on materials from WHO

Based on materials from the WHO

The 2011 European strategic action plan on antibiotic resistance (EUR/RC61/14) outlined seven strategic objectives in a comprehensive response to AMR. Since then the Regional Office has provided targeted assistance to Member States, building capacity to address the challenges posed by AMR.

Continuing to deliver on the objectives of the action plan, the Regional Office invited delegates from 17 countries to participate in eight programmes aimed at providing targeted input, and creating a unique opportunity to share experiences for the different participant profiles, including microbiologists, epidemiologists, pharmacists and clinicians.

The Multi-Country Antimicrobial Resistance Workshop was held on 24–27 February 2015 at the United Nations City in Copenhagen, Denmark. Ukraine also took part in the workshop, represented by Aidyn Salmanov, MD, Dr. Sc., Professor, National coordinator of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR focal point) and Infection Control, Head of the Department of Microbiology and Epidemiology of Shupyk National Medical Academy of postgraduate education, Olga Golubovska, MD, Dr. Sc., Professor (Department of Infectious Diseases of Bogomolets National Medical University), Dr. Tetiana Glushrtvych (Bacteriological Laboratory State Institution Ukrainian Center of Diseases Control and Monitoring) and Larisa Iakovleva MD, Dr. Sc., Professor, (National Pharmaceutical University)

The meeting was co-hosted by the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance and Health Technologies and Pharmaceuticals (HTP) programs of the WHO Regional Office for Europe.

Ukranian Poster 2015