The Resistance Alert System

The resistance alert system is a mechanism for telling microbiologists in the NHS about antibiotic resistance issues.

Resistance Alert notices aim to inform promptly medical microbiologists of new and emerging resistance problems, as identified by the HPA reference laboratories. They describe the nature of the resistance, the extent of its known spread, if any, how the resistance can be detected in diagnostic laboratories and what material should be sent to reference laboratories.

Alert notices will be sent out sparingly for matters of concern, such as when a new resistance type is being encountered repeatedly and appears to be spreading, and will be posted to the HPA website as well as sent out via the Inspector of Microbiology to all UK Consultant Medical Microbiologists.

Resistance Alert Notices:

December 2005: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (PDF, 15 KB)

March 2008: High-level azithromycin resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PDF, 20 KB)

January 2009: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the UK (PDF, 19 KB)

July 2009: New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase repeated importation from Indian subcontinent (PDF, 20 KB)

Last reviewed: 29 July 2009