Appendix 2 Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (SACAR) Antimicrobial Framework

In 2000, the Chief Medical Officer set out a strategy to manage infectious diseases and control antimicrobial resistance.1 A subsequent report ‘Winning Ways’ set out the actions necessary to achieve this control and reinforced the need for prudent use of antimicrobials.2 Some of these recommendations became legal requirements through the 2006 Code of Practice for the prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (Health Act 2006).3 Antimicrobial prescribing is now one of the indicators used by the Healthcare Commission to audit the management of medicines.4 In order to support local activities to meet these requirements, the Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance (the predecessor to the Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections), has developed this framework to support the safe and appropriate use of antimicrobials.