The Epidemic Intelligence Information System (EPIS) is a web-based communication platform that allows nominated public health experts to exchange technical information to assess whether current and emerging public health threats have a potential impact in the European Union (EU).
The overall aim of the protocol is to support the implementation of a PPS of HAIs and antimicrobial use in European long-term care facilities, to meet the abovementioned objectives for ECDC surveillance.
In 2016–2017, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) organised the third point prevalence survey (PPS) of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use in European long-term care facilities (LTCFs) or HALT-3.
The laboratories participating in the QA21 EQA scheme for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of N. gonorrhoeae showed good levels of competency and capability in recovering and testing strains of unknown phenotype.
The surveillance of Neisseria gonorrhoeae antimicrobial susceptibility in the European Union/European Economic Area (EU/EEA) is essential for detecting emerging and increasing antimicrobial resistance. Since 2009, this surveillance has been co-ordinated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The quality-assured data produced can be used to inform treatment guidelines.