- 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) and broader society
Antibiotic Research UK was pleased to be part of the Infection Management Coalition. IMC have just launched their White Paper, the first of its kind. The paper outlines a call for a transformational change in the way infection is detected, monitored, prevented, and managed across all facets of the NHS, healthcare systems and broader society. It advocated for adopting a whole system approach.
Infection Management Coalition
The IMC was convened in January 2021. Its goal is to drive change in support of holistic management and pandemic preparedness in response to the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on societies and economies globally.
The White Paper was developed by a coalition of partners spanning pharmaceuticals, MedTech and diagnostics. It calls professional bodies, healthcare experts and charities to collaborate in the creation of a healthcare system which is resilient and mature regarding:
- Outbreak and pandemic preparedness
- Infection prevention
- Rapid treatment of time-critical viral and bacterial infection
Ultimately, it aims to deliver effective antimicrobial stewardship (AMS). It is building on the findings discussed in the Lancet’s global report on the burden of AMR (Antimicrobial Resistance Collaborators, Global burden of bacterial antimicrobial resistance in 2019: a systematic analysis. Lancet. 2022; (published online Jan 20.)
The White Paper outlines the ways in which we can, and must, collectively deliver this transformational change. Of particular note was a section in the report calling on government funding for Third Sector organisations who are helping to deliver the UK’s AMR strategy. The full report can be downloaded HERE.
If you want to help us fight the hidden pandemic of antibiotic resistance, find out what you can do.