An international commitment to fighting antimicrobial resistance

Medical professionals, businesses and government officials from around the world joined in Amsterdam on the sidelines of the ECCMID 2016 Conference, hosted by ESCMID, to declare their commitment to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in a concerted effort.

During a talk in the Artis Zoo hosted by ESCMID and the Dutch Society of Medical Microbiology (NVMM) researchers and representatives of the Dutch healthcare administration also urged governments, businesses and citizens worldwide to join their battle and help them develop and implement strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance. They recommend the introduction of antibiotic stewardship programmes, higher funding of research more international collaboration between researchers in the European Union into antimicrobial therapies as well as preventing the spread of infections through better surveillance, vaccination and the training of young people in effective infection control.

The one-health approach

Over the past months many individuals, organisations, businesses and governments have voiced their commitment to contribute to tackling this challenge. A joint effort by medical microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, veterinarians, environmental scientists, public health and government officials – a so-called one-health approach – is needed to make a difference in the fight antimicrobial resistance. This fight is a collective challenge requiring the mobilisation of all levels of government, academia, business and everyday citizens. 

Well known academics from the United States, Australia, Asia, South America and Europe stressed that it is important that this work continues, and that medical professionals themselves need to set clear and binding goals to be achieved in the future. They agreed to continue to share best practices and strategies that increase public awareness of AMR issues and solutions.

“Working together, in a spirit of cooperation, and with a clear commitment to combat the increase of antimicrobial resistance, we will leave future generations in a healthier, stronger and more closely connected health care approach,” said Jan Kluytmans, President of the Dutch Society of Medical Microbiology NVMM.

“Nowadays, we need to think internationally while acting in regional interdisciplinary networks, helping each other – across all existing borders- to fight AMR. CRE spreading needs to be stopped now!” commented Alex Friedrich, member of the ESCMID Board.