18 November 2016, Basel: Experts at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease (ESCMID) are joining colleagues across the globe this week to promote prudent use of antibiotics. They show their support for the European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) on 18 November, which was inaugurated in 2006 to raise awareness of antimicrobial resistance. EAAD forms part of World Antibiotic Awareness week from 14 – 20 November, which reflects the fact that the war against antimicrobial resistance must be a global effort. Some of the society’s activities throughout this week and since its foundation more than 30 years ago are highlighted on its dedicated Fighting Resistance webpage.
Prof. Jesús Rodríguez-Baño, Escmid president-elect and Secretary General: “Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat that has been at the core of ESCMID’s activities. Our experts have been committed to developing hands-on solutions by supporting and promoting research and training to tackle the problem around the world. The society offers professional training and programmes on antimicrobial stewardship, infection control and surveillance resistance. It develops medical guidelines, policies for antimicrobial use, and initiatives to promote novel diagnostics, vaccines and therapies.”
The society has undertaken a number of initiatives to effectively fight the growing problem.
AMR will once again be one of the main topics at ECCMID, the world’s largest congress in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology usually gathering some 12,000 specialists, from 22 – 25 April 2017 in Vienna. A book on antimicrobial stewardship produced by ESCMID and Escmid study Group for Antibiotic Policies (ESGAP) is due for publication in April 2017. The book has been developed by key experts in the field as a practical ‘hands-on’ book to help antimicrobial stewardship team members design and implement their programme, in all healthcare settings. It can also be used as an undergraduate and postgraduate training tool for infectious diseases specialists, microbiologists, pharmacists, nurses, and any other professionals involved in antimicrobial stewardship.
ESCMID has been supporting governments and international organizations to develop and implement policies on evidence-based prevention, infection control, surveillance of resistance, antimicrobial stewardship and sanitation to guarantee an optimal use of antimicrobial medicines. The society welcomes the fact that the topic moved to the top of the global agenda in September when the United Nations General Assembly called a high-level meeting to address a problem that is projected to cause up to 10 million annual deaths by 2050.
