Strategy for the control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland (SARI)

The Minister for Health and Children asked the Scientific Advisory Committee of NDSC to produce a strategy document in response to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance in Ireland. The result was the Strategy for the Control of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ireland (SARI), which was launched by the Minister in June 2001. SARI was steered by the SARI National Committee, supported by a number of SARI Sub-Committees that advised on specific areas of SARI implementation, such as promotion of prudent antibiotic use, surveillance and infection control.  SARI committee members produced a number of national guidelines and advised the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and Children (DoHC) on matters relating to the prevention and control of antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infection.

The last meeting of the SARI National Committee took place in June 2011.  With the advent of the RCPI Health Services Executive (HSE) clinical programme on healthcare-associated infection and antimicrobial resistance, the committee agreed to complete its work and hand over its functions to a new committee.  A new national committee was established in September 2011 under RCPI governance; the RCPI Clinical Advisory Group on Healthcare-associated Infection. This committee has taken over the functions of the SARI National Committee and all SARI working groups and subcommittees have become subcommittees of this group.