Antibiotics global threat
May 5, 2014
A NEW report from the World
Health Organisation (WHO) has
warned that antibiotic resistance is
now a global threat and actuality.
‘Antimicrobial resistance: global
report on surveillance’ findings
included that resistance to last
resort treatment for life threatening
infections caused by a common
intestinal bacteria had spread to all
regions of the world and resistance
to one of the most commonly
used antibacterial medicines for
urinary tract infections was now
widespread, with the treatment
ineffective in more than half of
patients in many countries.
It highlighted the need to develop
new antibiotics and diagnostics to
stay ahead of resistance.
Fulbright scholar Suzanne Schultz
has highlighted the need to develop
new antibiotics (PD 13 Mar).
She told PD last week the report
was timely, with major studies
from Australia, the UK and the US
reporting similar themes in the last
12 months.
Very few new antibiotics had
been developed, with only five
new compound classes in the last
30 years, as the cost of new drug
development was high and the cost
of existing antibiotics low, she said.
Australia was in an excellent
position to collaborate globally on
the issue due to a highly skilled
workforce and highly regarded
contributions internationally.
“Research funding with a focus
on antimicrobial resistance and
antibacterial medicines would
assist Australian researchers
to contribute, collaborate and
benefit from work in this area,
which affects all nations, including
Australia.”
Medicines Australia ceo Dr
Brendan Shaw said the Government
needed to start thinking about how
it could work with pharmaceutical
companies to encourage
investment in new antibiotics.
“Governments have failed to
recognise that the decisions they
make today about what they
will pay for different therapeutic
treatments has a knock-on effect 15
to 20 years later on the number of
new treatments being developed
by the medicines industry.”
Comparing new medicines against
cheaper old generics could lead
industry to avoid investment areas
such as antibiotics, he said.
To read the report, CLICK HERE.
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