EU-US Summit agrees to form transatlantic task force on antimicrobial resistance

At the EU-US Summit on the 3rd of November, it was agreed to establish a transatlantic taskforce on urgent antimicrobial resistance issues. The task force is to focus on appropriate therapeutic use of antimicrobial drugs in the medical and veterinary communities, prevention of both healthcare- and community-associated drug-resistant infections, and strategies for improving the pipeline of new antimicrobial drugs, which could be better addressed by intensified cooperation between the United States and Europe.

–I am very happy for the establishment of this task force, ReAct director and chairman of Strama Otto Cars told the Swedish radio.

–This issue of antimicrobial resistance has been lacking a global leadership for many years, but now I believe we have reached a point where we can expect necessary change to be brought about.

Antimicrobial resistance

(Excerpted from Decisions taken at the EU-USA Summit on 3 November 2009 in Washington D.C.)

The EU and WHO names the rapid development of antimicrobial resistance as one of the three greatest threats to human health. Without access to effective antibiotics, infections that today are considered harmless could again become serious health problems and a major cause of death. A strong and clear political position is a prerequisite for international cooperation on measures. Together, the EU and the USA have the best research and development potential to address the issue effectively.

At the summit it was decided to appoint a working group on antimicrobial resistance. The working group will begin by identifying and agreeing on important issues related to antimicrobial resistance. A concrete action plan is to be drawn up and it is suggested that the working group should report back at the 2011 summit.

Read more about the EU and USA initiate cooperation against resistant bacteria.


Page changed: 2009-11-04