Antibiotics have saved millions of lives, but we have taken them for granted. We need concerted action to prevent our world from going back to the pre-antibiotic era.
Expert warning on global pandemic
Modern medicine could be seriously threatened if Antibiotic Resistance is not tackled urgently, warn experts in an article on bmj.com today. Existing antibiotics are losing their effect at an alarming pace and can no longer be considered as a renewable source.
Reducing consumer demand of antibiotics could be the strongest force to driving change, but the ultimate responsibiltiy for coordination and resources to tackle this global problem rests with national governments, WHO and other international stakeholders.
In addition we need stronger incentives for developing antibacterials with new mechanisms of action. The use of these new antibiotics must be safeguarded by regulations and practices that ensure rational use”, says authors Otto Cars and collegues from ReAct – Action on Antibiotic Resistance in the article.
Read the full article: "Analysis - Meeting the challenge of antibiotic resistance" on bmj.com
We have compiled a report from our activities at the WHA in May together with a short briefing on an upcoming ReAct publication and the International Seminar and Workshop in Ecuador, June 9 - 13.
Please click here to read the full Newsletter (pdf 105 KB)
With the support of ReAct, a new subtopic on Antibiotic Resistance was launched on the 26th of March on the SciDevNet website. The antibiotic resistance subtopic includes feature articles, opinion pieces, and briefs on policy solutions to resistance, all with an emphasis in the developing world.
The clinical and economic impact of multiresistant Gramnegative bacteria is substantial and greatly worrysome concludes researchers in a recent minireview published on behalf of ReAct
Increasing resistance to first line antibiotics means recommendations for managing severe pneumonia in children in developing countries need changing
Organisation and Governance of ReAct (pdf 42kb)