US/Europe task force to address antibiotic resistance

The task force will begin its work by identifying and agreeing on issues related to antimicrobial resistance, in areas including the appropriate use of antimicrobial drugs in medical and veterinary communities, the prevention of hospital and community-acquired drug-resistant infections, and strategies for improving the antimicrobial drug pipeline.

The World Health Organisation ranks antimicrobial resistance is one of the three greatest threats to human health, with many pathogens becoming increasingly resistant to antimicrobials.

“Antimicrobial resistance and the lack of new antimicrobial agents to effectively treat resistant infections are problems that no country can deal with alone – they threaten the very foundation of medical care,” said Richard Whitley, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA). “Without effective antimicrobial drugs, modern medical treatments such as operations, transplants, intensive care, cancer treatment and care of premature babies will become very risky if not impossible.”

Javier Garau, president of European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, said, “We are thrilled to see the US and EU take this important first step to control the spread of serious and life-threatening antimicrobial resistant organisms and to advance the development of much-needed antimicrobial drugs.”

Two recent European reports described the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in Europe and highlighted possible strategies to stimulate the development of new drugs. Approximately 25,000 people die each year in Europe from just five resistant infections analysed in one report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).

The other major report, from the London School of Economics and Political Science, outlines possible policy options and incentives to kick-start research and development into new antimicrobial drugs and diagnostics. Both reports are available at: http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/9/17/conference_innovative_incentives_for_effective_antibacterials