World leaders commit to action on antimicrobial resistance

At a high-level United Nations meeting held this week, world leaders signalled an unprecedented level of attention to curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) — a phenomenon that occurs when bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi develop resistance against medicines that were previously able to cure them.

For the first time, all 193 UN members states committed to taking a broad, coordinated approach to address the root causes of AMR across multiple sectors, especially human health, animal health and agriculture. This is only the fourth time a health issue has been taken up by the UN General Assembly, the others being HIV, non-communicable diseases and Ebola.

“Antimicrobial resistance threatens the achievement of the sustainable development goals and requires a global response,” said HE Peter Thomson, president of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly. “Member states have today agreed upon a strong political declaration that provides a good basis for the international community to move forward. No one country, sector or organisation can address this issue alone.”

Countries reaffirmed their commitment to develop national action plans based on the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance — the blueprint for tackling AMR developed in 2015 by the World Health Organization (WHO) in coordination with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The main objectives of the action plan are:

• Public awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance through effective communication, education and training.
• Strong knowledge- and evidence-based surveillance and research.
• Effective sanitation, hygiene and infection prevention measures to reduce infection.

Leaders recognised the need for stronger systems to monitor drug-resistant infections and the volume of antimicrobials used in humans, animals and crops, as well as increased international cooperation and funding. They also pledged to strengthen regulation of antimicrobials, improve knowledge and awareness, and promote best practices — as well as to foster innovative approaches using alternatives to antimicrobials and new technologies for diagnosis and vaccines.

Australian scientists have reacted positively to the announcement, with Dr Rietie Venter from The University of South Australia linking the news to the US FDA’s recent ban of triclosan and 17 other chemicals in soaps — “an initiative that could be extended and adopted globally”, he said.

Ramiz Boulos, CEO of Boulos & Cooper Pharmaceuticals, said governments must provide not only awareness but also investment vehicles and incentives to the pharmaceutical industry — “something we are seeing now in the US and Europe which we need to replicate in Australia and elsewhere”.

“Scientific research is of utmost importance here and should be encouraged to deliver new treatment options and rapid diagnostic tools to distinguish between a bacterial infection and a viral infection, for example, and if bacteria are resistant to certain antibiotics,” said Boulos. “These diagnostic tools should become available in every clinic and become a routine part of any antibiotic prescription.”

Associate Professor Sanjaya Senanayakel, from The Australian National University (ANU), meanwhile stressed that the goodwill coming out of the meeting must be “followed up by the less exciting but nevertheless vital documented/signed commitment to funding, surveillance, research etc”. He also noted said it would have been ideal if firm targets and funding commitments had been proposed at the meeting.

“If there is a lack of universal commitments from today’s UN meeting from all the member states,” he said, “especially with regard to funding, it will be disappointing, despite the high profile it brings to this issue.”