Antimicrobial resistance should be a top five policy priority for the UK Government

New Report from the Health and Social Care Committee highlights the severity of the situation of antimicrobial resistance. According to the report, tackling antimicrobial resistance needs to be firmly established as a top five policy priority for the UK Government in order to help prevent the virtual loss of worldwide modern medicine. Report notes that new classes of antibiotics have not been developed for decades and spotlights the importance to conserve the effectiveness of current antimicrobials. This could be reached by improving infection prevention and by reducing inappropriate and unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics. Antibiotic prescribing levels in the UK are around double compared to the Netherlands, Sweden, and the Baltic states. Report also calls for increased access to rapid diagnostics. Multifaceted approach is needed in the fight against antimicrobial resistance and diagnostic tests are seen as an important tool to promote more appropriate use of antibiotics.

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Read more: https://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/health-and-social-care-committee/news/antimicrobial-resistance-report-published-17-19/