New director of the AMR Action Subcommittee

Dr. Holger Rohde has been appointed as the new Director of the AMR Action Subcommittee

 

We welcome Dr. Holger Rohde as the new Director of the AMR action Subcommittee. In this new role, he will shape the development and strategy of the new subcommittee, as well as managing the ESCMID AMR and early drug development activities. Holger Rohde is a medical microbiologist and deputy director at the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene / University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). He is a professor of Molecular Medical Microbiology, and leader of a research group focussing on pathogenesis of staphylococcal diseases and implant associated infections. Scientific activities include epidemiology and mechanisms of resistance in nosocomial Gram-positive and -negative pathogens, and implementation of new generation techniques to improve pathogen detection in clinical specimens.

 

ESCMID initiatives to combat antimicrobial resistance and the inappropriate use of antibiotics

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is jeopardising the treatment of infections worldwide. It curtails our ability to successfully protect patients from complicating infections. A lack of effective antibiotics also severely hampers our ability to take advantage of the progress made with research in other medical fields. This page summarizes the major activities aimed at combatting AMR within the ESCMID network and partner organizations.

 

See all of ESCMID's AMR activities detailed on our ESCMID Initiatives page.

World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

ESCMID is proud to participate in the yearly World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW)! This WHO initiative takes place 18 - 24 Novmeber every year and aims to increase awareness of global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of drug-resistant infections.

 

This year the WAAW 2021 campaign theme was “Spread Awareness, Stop Resistance"

 

You can learn more about this campaign and find materials to share and join in the conversation here

VALUE-Dx

ESCMID is part of the VALUE-Dx project, a European Public-Private Partnership to transform clinical practice, improve patient outcomes, and combat AMR, through the widespread use of clinical and cost-effective innovative diagnostics strategies to achieve more personalised, evidence-based antibiotic prescription and use in community care settings.

Learn more here

REVERSE H2020 Project

Reducing the effect of drug-resistant pathogens

 

ESCMID is a proud external stakeholder of the REVERSE H2020 project for the development and implementation of cost-effective strategies and tools for the prevention and clinical management of healthcare-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms, aiming to reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance in high prevalence healthcare settings. Learn more about the project and its goals on their website here

World Alliance against Antimicrobial resistance - "manual" on combating antibiotic resistance

The World Alliance against Antimicrobial Resistance (WAAAR) aims to raise awareness about the urgency and magnitude of the threat of AMR and to promote an international dialogue to assist in effective responses. To this end, WAAAR, gathered experts to develop a “manual” on policy to combat antibiotic resistance. Comprised of healthcare, environmental and animal health experts, the group formulated several propositions which were presented in 2018 in the French National Assembly during an event for World Antibiotic Awareness Week. Below, we share the completed manual along with a letter from WAAAR to help spread the word and fight against AMR.

Letter from WAAAR

AMR Manual

 

TROCAR – Translational Research on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance

ESCMID was partner in "Translational Research on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance" (TROCAR), which was a research project funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission (2009-2012). The driving concept of TROCAR was to investigate the fundamentals of the epidemiology of new highly virulent multiresistant strains.

GRACE – Genomics to Combat Resistance against Antibiotics in Community-acquired LRTI in Europe

ESCMID was partner in "Genomics to Combat Resistance against Antibiotics in Community-acquired LRTI in Europe" (GRACE), which was a network of excellence devoted to tackling the increasing problem of resistance to antibiotics when dealing with lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. This research project was funded by the Sixth Framework Programme of the European Commission (2006-2011).

ESCMID Study Groups contribute to the fight against antimicrobial resistance

ESGAP – The ESCMID Study Group for Antibiotic Policies has conducted the projectNew Life for Old Antibiotics, jointly with ESCMID’s PK/PD of Anti-Infectives Study Group (EPASG) , and have presented the results at an ESCMID Conference to this topic resulting in several publications (Link to conference website for all information). A dedicated website set up by these two groups hosts more background information on the same topic.

 

ESGARS – The ESCMID Study Group for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance is currently running the CAESAR project together with WHO-Europe and RIVM (NL) to set up an antimicrobial resistance surveillance system in European countries not formally taking part in EARS-Net.

 

ESGNI – The ESCMID Study Group for Nosocomial Infections is currently involved in the ECDC project TRICE for training in infection prevention and control to ultimately curb spread of antimicrobial resistance. On the same topic, the group runs an annual training course.

 

Pictured: A. van der Zande (Director General RIVM), Z. Jakab (Regional Director WHO Europe), G. Kahlmeter (ESCMID President) sign memorandum for CAESAR project in September 2012

 

ESCMID supports science-based initiatives to combat antimicrobial resistance

This is irrespective of whether initiatives are from ESCMID, its members, other societies,  non-governmental organizations or government authorities. ESCMID is not able to financially support all initiatives, but it will provide a scientific platform for selected efforts and prioritize those initiated within the organization and by its members. You can find a list of some European or international initiatives active in the field of combatting antimicrobial resistance and links to their individual (external) websites on our Additional Initiatives page.