In focus
Based on the insights from experts in antimicrobial resistance and universal health coverage from 33 different countries ReAct wrote a policy brief linking universal health coverage to antimicrobial resistance. The policy brief shows why antimicrobial resistance seriously threatens achieving universal health coverage, but also how their respective policies go hand in hand.
ReAct is an independent network dedicated to the problem of antibiotic resistance. ReAct is a global catalyst, advocating and stimulating for global engagement on antibiotic resistance through a broad range of collaborations.
World Patient Safety Day
World Patient Safety Day is observed for the first time on 17 September this year. Effective antibiotics and antibiotic resistance are interlinked with a number of important dimensions regarding patient safety.
News
In a public consultation, the Inter-agency Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goals indicators (IAEG-SDG) proposed an Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)-specific indicator. This is the first suggested AMR-specific indicator among potential changes to the metrics tracking progress on the United Nations’ SDGs.
News
End July ReAct Africa, together with South Centre, arranged its annual conference, bringing stakeholders on antimicrobial resistance in the Africa region together. This year’s theme was antimicrobial resistance and the link to Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goals. Dr. Rashid Abdi Aman, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Health, Kenya, officially opened the conference. He lauded the theme of the conference, saying that it was timely and would inform the UN high level meeting, set to be held in September 2019.
Science
Diagnostics are often lifted as a part solution in containing the development and spread of antibiotic resistance. Sometimes, the word is used as if it was a magic wand – if we only had more or better diagnostics all problems would be solved. But how do diagnostics work, and what effects can we expect from implementing a new diagnostic method?
Science
The first step in microbiological diagnostics is to determine whether the patient carries a pathogen that can explain the observed symptoms, and if so identify what species and sometimes subtype the infecting pathogen belongs to. For infections caused by bacteria, the gold standard method has, since the beginning of microbiological diagnostics, been culture on agar plates followed by microscopy and further subcultivation. New rapid diagnostic methods challenge this old and slow method – some more successfully than others.
News
Healthcare facilities managed by Faith Based Organizations are vital in delivering good quality healthcare to the vast rural hinterland of Asia and Africa. In the absence of a robust primary healthcare system, secondary level hospitals often serve as the most important healthcare provider for the rural population. Implementing antibiotic stewardship in secondary level hospitals in countries like India, presents its own challenges. ReAct Asia Pacific took up the challenge to pilot antibiotic stewardship programmes in secondary level institutions managed by Faith Based Organisations – this resulted in 8 major insights. Read more and see short video with three interviews.
News
ReAct has for many years focused much effort on driving the issue of antibiotic resistance up the global political agenda. Today global political awareness about antibiotic resistance has reached unprecedented levels. Now ReAct will align its work to respond to the next challenge: to ensure that the long-awaited response is corresponding to meet the actual needs, in particular in low- and middle-income countries. To address this new situation, ReAct will focus on four strategic areas in the coming five years, this with continued core funding from Sida.
The ReAct Toolbox is a user-friendly web-based resource that provides inspiration and guidance to take action and develop national action plans on antibiotic resistance. It is built on what has been done in the past in a variety of settings, and is aligned with ongoing and current initiatives from across the globe.
ReAct is a global network of antibiotic resistance experts with nodes in Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America.
In the last 70 years the use of antibiotics has been crucial in improving countless lives and drastically reducing deaths caused by bacterial infections. The increasing development of antibiotic resistance is posing a serious threat to human health and development, the environment and for animal health. Learn more about ReAct’s work on antibiotic resistance here.
Involved in developing your country's National Action Plan? Here you find support for developing a comprehensive plan.
Doctors, pharmacists, veterinarians and other health care professionals - you have the power to take action! Learn more about how to get started.
Engagement from civil society organizations and communities is needed to tackle antibiotic resistance. Learn more about how to get involved.