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World Antibiotic Awareness Week 2019 | 18-24 November 2019

‘’Antimicrobial resistance is one of the major problems facing Healthcare.

Inappropriate use of antibiotics and poor regulation of the purchase of antibiotics in some countries have been major drivers. Furthermore research into discovering and developing new drugs has been relatively neglected.

Recognition of these challenges and remedial pathways to resolve them is crucial for Healthcare in the future’’

Prof George Griffin – President of FEAM

 

Because of the strong impact on the public health community, the 18th-24th November 2019 – has been proclaimed the World Antibiotic Awareness Week. FEAM is delighted to support this initiative, which aims to increase global awareness of antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers in order to tackle the spreading of AMR. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of a microorganism (bacteria, viruses, parasites) to shut down the efficacy of an antimicrobial compound – such as antibiotics, antivirals and antimalarials – from working against it. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective leading to persistence and spreading of infections.
The main drivers of this global emergency are the use/misuse/abuse of antimicrobials, as well as their release in the environment. Resistance can spread very easily with devastating consequences for the treatment of patients. Significant differences – both in terms of the burden of AMR and the implementation of plans to fight AMR – persist across European countries.

 

How to tackle AMR?

  1. Global public awareness campaign
  2. Improve sanitation by preventing the spread of infection
  3. Reduce unnecessary use of antimicrobials and their dissemination into the environment
  4. Improve global surveillance of drug resistance and microbial consumption
  5. Promote new and rapid diagnostics
  6. Promote development and use of vaccines and alternatives
  7. Better incentives to promote investment for new drugs and improving existing ones
  8. Build a global coalition for real action

 

Look out for the FEAM One Health Summary report and to the Open Letter sent to the Members of the European Parliament to find out more about AMR.

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