Objective Six of the  Australian strategy aims to strength international partnerships and collaboration on this global issue. The global movement of people, food, animals and other products facilitates spread of resistant pathogens. Growth of medical tourism enables spread of healthcare-acquired infections or MRO colonisation between hospitals in different countries. International collaboration is essential .

Priorities include:

• Active engagement with multilateral organisations, such as the WHO, to contribute to regional and global action
• Leading regional initiatives – Western Pacific and SE Asia
• Establishing developing existing international research collaborations
• Participatation in international surveillance initiatives

Of regional importance are the many collaborative efforts between professionals in Australia and New Zealand and colleagues in our Pacific country neighbours – Australia’s best insurance approach against incursions of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis or worse is to facilitate control systems within the countries of origin, quite aside from more primary justifications for responding. Priorities include development of their infection control programs, especially use of alcohol-based hand hygiene in healthcare settings (WHO 5 Moments, Clean Care is Safer Care initiative), and  development of effective antimicrobial stewardship efforts. 

Ella Beach, Port Moresby, PNG (J Ferguson)