Will you be joining us online for the 2022 Antibiotic Research UK’s annual lecture and AGM this year? Find out who is speaking and book your tickets today.
The Great Antibiotic Fear – Antibiotic Research UK features in Sunday Times Article – 20 March 2022
In the Sunday Times Business Supplement – 20 March 2022 in an article called ‘The Great Antibiotic Fear’ written by the Sunday Times pharma, consumer and leisure correspondent Sabah Meddings, the opening words of the article say as follows ‘In the 30 years that Dr Neil Todd has worked as a clinical microbiologist, he has watched as the number of …
Why is growing awareness not translating into new antibiotics?
A personal view from our Chief Executive on the current state of play and the role of the Third Sector Antibiotic resistance is on the rise around the world. Bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, resulting in infections that can no longer be treated with the drugs available. A recent paper in the Lancet (1) stated that in 2019 there …
First of its kind coalition sees health industry, professional bodies and third sector come together to holistically tackle ‘hidden pandemic’ of antibiotic resistance
COVID-19 has shone a light on the need to consider infection management as a whole Coined as the ‘hidden pandemic’, concerns are rising that antibiotic resistant infections are already presenting the next global health crisis A whole system approach is required for the way infection is detected, monitored, prevented, and managed across all facets of the National Health Service (NHS) …
Meet Saeshen, our placement student
In July 2021, we welcomed Saeshen to Antibiotic Research UK for a student placement year. Despite largely working remotely due to the pandemic, he has made some valuable contributions and is a vital part of the team here. We asked Saeshen a few questions about his experiences so far. Tell us a bit about yourself and your studies I’m Saeshen …
Pharmacy Magazine publishes our take on recognising resistant infections
Pharmacy Magazine has published a piece on antibiotic-resistant infections written by Antibiotic Research UK’s Arlene Brailey. The magazine is the biggest publisher in the Pharmacy sector in the UK. Arlene runs the charity’s Patient Support Service, offering advice and reassurance to people with resistant infections. Raising awareness The magazine reaches around 15,000 readers per issue, many of those being medical …
Antibiotic Development: Smart Ways to Buy Antimicrobials (Keynote with Professor Kevin Outterson)
Antibiotic Research UK was delighted to present Professor Kevin Outterson, CEO of CARB-X, as the keynote speaker at this year’s annual lecture. Antibacterial effectiveness is a global public good, but is being eroded by resistance and broken business models. Professor Outterson outlined the problems we face from drug-resistant bacteria, and – more importantly – the solutions. He focuses on changing …
Reflections on the 2021 Annual Lecture of Antibiotic Research UK, featuring keynote speaker Professor Kevin Outterson, Director of CARB-X.
Antibiotic Research UK held their annual lecture at the Royal College of Pathologists on Thursday 21 October 2021. Professor Colin Garner, Chief Executive of Antibiotic Research UK, was delighted to welcome attendees to what was many people’s first in-person lecture in almost two years. Talks ranged from the dire situation created by antibiotic resistance to moving stories by patients affected …
The holy grail: A test to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections
The search for a new in vitro diagnostic test to distinguish between bacterial and viral infections has been a holy grail for healthcare professionals for many years. A rapid, accurate bacterial or viral infection test would enable healthcare workers to screen out those patients with a viral infection. This would then reduce the unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics. This would not …
It’s time to act to stop the wide-ranging consequences of antimicrobial resistance
New Wellcome Report – ‘How drug resistant infections are undermining modern medicine – and why more research is needed’ – cites the story of ANTRUK supporter and speaker Annabelle Armitage. It draws attention to the increasingly dangerous implications of AMR. It also highlights the urgent need for more research to stop common infections becoming untreatable. One of the main drivers …
E. coli: infections under the microscope
Escherichia coli (E. coli), is a type of bacteria that occurs in the intestines of people and animals, often without causing any problems at all. But in some cases it causes illnesses ranging from mild (acute diarrhoea) to life-threatening (haemolytic-uremic syndrome and severe bacteraemia). One study demonstrates that E. coli caused fatal diarrhoea in nearly 60,000 people in 2016, globally. …
Vaccines and clots; how to balance medical risks
We have explored the general medical theme behind many of the COVID-19 headlines over the past year. The latest hot topic is the apparent risk of blood clots as a side effect of some COVID vaccines. So what are the risks, and what can this teach us about medicine? All medicines carry the risk of side effects or severe adverse …
Antiviral taskforce launched by UK Government – but what about the fight against Antimicrobial Resistance?
Yesterday (20 April 2021) the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the launch of a new antiviral taskforce. It is charged with getting new two new treatments into people with a COVID-19 infection. The aim is to have at least 2 effective treatments this year, either in a tablet or capsule form. The public can take these treatments at home …
C. diff: infections under the microscope
Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is a type of bacteria that can live in our digestive system without causing any problems. In fact, it is present in around 1 in 30 of us. But it can also cause a nasty infection and is the most common cause of hospital diarrhoea. It particularly affects people who have recently received antibiotics. These …
LIVE with Scientists inspires students with science
Antibiotic Research UK and LIVE with Scientists teamed up for an interactive Antibiotic Resistance webinar earlier this month. The sell-out online event brought secondary school- and college-age students a fantastic insight into the work of PhD scientists investigating antibiotic resistance. The LIVE with Scientists programme is an online platform that hosts live science talks and interviews. It aims to provide …
Gut bacteria, antibiotics and human health
Did you know there are as many bacterial cells in the human body as there are human cells? These bacteria are essential to life and good health. They are also of increasing interest to scientists and doctors investigating causes of ill health. This blog provides a simple summary of some of the latest and most interesting research in the field …
The language barrier no one is talking about: medical jargon
The average reading age of adults in the UK is estimated at between 9 and 11 years and nearly 8% of people in the UK do not speak English as their first language. Could we save lives by toning down the medical jargon and explaining things in language everyone understands? Coronavirus, shielding, immunity, vaccination – the medical terms we use …
Review highlights how antibiotic resistance is spread in low-middle income countries
A review of nearly 200 studies into the spread of antibiotic-resistant infections has highlighted individual accountability and global action as vital for preventing a global increase in deaths from such infections. In July this year, researchers from France, Lebanon, Italy and South Africa published ‘Drivers of Antibiotic Resistance Transmission in Low- and Middle-Income Countries from a “One Health” Perspective—A Review’ …
Take action against antibiotic resistance now to avoid a pandemic worse than COVID-19
We have been working with the pharma giant Pfizer, co-producers of the first vaccine against COVID-19 to help avoid a future pandemic of bacterial antibiotic resistance. Professor Colin Garner (Chief Executive) and Professor Christine Bond (Trustee and Education Committee Chair – Emeritus Professor, University of Aberdeen) were members of an AMR Taskforce charged with defining how individuals can make a …
Bristol study highlights how reduced antibiotic prescriptions can help reduce antibiotic resistance
Our charity is increasingly concerned that antibiotic resistant bacterial infections could be forgotten because of the current focus on the COVID-19 pandemic. While the world is focuses on the viral pandemic, the fight against antibiotic resistance cannot be ignored. The public are increasingly visiting our website to learn more about antibiotic resistant infections. Antibiotic resistance is driven by the overuse, …