Tackling antibiotic resistance

Following on from World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW), which took place from 18 to 22 November, there has been considerable discussion surrounding how to prevent the further emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance. This year's campaign marks the first in a new five-year National Action Plan in the UK for tackling antimicrobial resistance, which will aim to reduce inappropriate prescribing and control and prevent infection (NHS England, 2019).

The development of antibiotics has been revolutionary for medicine and public health. However, given the resistance that is now building up against them, we are facing one of the most significant and urgent threats to global health. As former Prime Minister David Cameron put it: ‘If we fail to act, we are looking at an almost unthinkable scenario where antibiotics no longer work and we are cast back into the dark ages of medicine.’ (Review on Antimicrobial Resistance, 2016)