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Nurses and medics: Antibiotics threat is an 'international concern'

Diseases are evolving faster than the drugs that exist to treat them...

Nursing groups and medical experts have backed the views of the Government's Chief Medical Officer over the threat posed by antibiotic resistance, claiming it is an issue of 'international concern'.

Professor Dame Sally Davies said today that infectious disease resistance to antibiotics are a 'ticking time bomb' and a problem as serious as 'catastrophic terrorist attacks'.

Nursing groups and scientists agreed with Prof Davies' remarks this morning - but also said patients unnecessarily relying on antibiotics is part of the problem.

Prof Davies said in her report diseases are evolving faster than the drugs that exist to treat them.

Routine operations such as hip replacements could become deadly in just 20 years time if we lose the ability to fight infection, she said.

According to Prof Davies the problem is "as important as climate change for the world" and urged the Government to raise the issue when meeting political leaders at the G8 summit in London next month.


Responding to the report, Professor Nigel Brown, president of the Society for General Microbiology, said: "Professor Dame Sally Davies rightly flags the issue of antimicrobial resistance to be of national and international concern.

"Urgent action is required by microbiologists and other scientists to identify and produce new antibiotics, and to tackle the problem of antibiotic resistance and its transmission."

Dr Peter Carter, Chief Executive & General Secretary of the Royal College of Nurses, added: "This is an important issue and it is the responsibility of everyone in health care, from front line staff to the Government, to act."

The Royal College of General Practitioners, said patient reliance on antibiotics for common infections is part of the problem.

RCGP Chair Dr Clare Gerada, said: "Patients have come to rely on - and expect - antibiotics for common colds and infections that will get better naturally or respond better to other treatments and this can make it difficult for GPs to prescribe appropriately.

"The Chief Medical Officer's report and recommendations will help this work and we particularly welcome the emphasis on training and continuing professional development for health professionals.

"Antibiotics can achieve excellent results if prescribed and used appropriately but patients need to be more aware of their drawbacks and this report will help GPs to get this message across."

Dame Sally's report also flagged up the role of pharmaceutical companies, saying there is little incentive for firms to invest in antibiotic research.

But GlaxoSmithKline, one of the UK's leading pharmaceutical firms, disputed this, saying: "At GlaxoSmithKline we have a long heritage and expertise in antibiotics and we’re committed to researching in this area. In fact, we are one of the few companies continuing to do so."