WHO plan seeks to stanch global antimicrobial resistance

International effort reaches out to physicians, health care workers, pharmacists and even governments in order to control the emergence of super bugs.

By Stephanie Stapleton, AMNews staff. Oct. 1, 2001.

Washington -- Warning that antimicrobial resistance is becoming a public health crisis that could undermine the medical advances of the last 50 years, the World Health Organization last month unveiled a global strategy to combat and contain it.

The plan's urgency is based on a clear message: While physicians in most places in the world can now reach into the medicine chest and find an effective antibiotic to treat their patients, these tools could be rendered useless if actions to curb selective pressure are not taken.

Over the past three years, WHO has worked to build a framework of interventions designed to slow the emergence and reduce the spread of resistant microorganisms.

"What sets this initiative apart is that it is put together by the world's leading public health group," said Stuart Levy, MD, professor of medicine and microbiology at Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston and the president of the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics. It is a "true how-to" in terms of containing and understanding the antibiotic resistance issue, he added.

It involves lessening the disease burden and the spread of infection; improving access to and use of appropriate antimicrobials; and strengthening health systems and public health surveillance capabilities worldwide.

Overall, a central part of the plan involves physicians, providing them with the education and evidence necessary to advance correct prescribing practices and to deal with patient expectations.

"This strategy is designed to promote the wiser use of drugs so that resistance is minimized and effective treatments can continue to be used for generations to come," said David Heymann, MD, WHO executive director for communicable diseases. [...]