Cross-Industry Coalition Tackling ‘Hidden Pandemic’ of Antibiotic Resistant Infections

07/03/2022

Pfizer Hospital
Pfizer UK

The COVID-19 pandemic has made people more conscious of their personal health than ever before and has brought stark reality to the devastating impact that infections can have. Coined as the ‘hidden pandemic’, concerns are rising that antibiotic resistant infections are already presenting the next global health crisis.

The global impact of COVID-19 has shone a light on the need to reconsider infection management as a whole. That’s why, earlier this year, the Infection Management Coalition (IMC) launched a new White Paper calling for transformational change in the way infection is detected, monitored, prevented, and managed across all facets of the NHS, healthcare systems and broader society.

Developed by a diverse coalition of partners spanning pharmaceuticals, patient organisations, MedTech and diagnostics, the paper calls for a whole system approach to infection management which addresses outbreak and pandemic preparedness, infection prevention, rapid treatment of time-critical viral and bacterial infection, and the delivery of effective antimicrobial stewardship. Building on the findings discussed in the Lancet’s global report on the burden of AMR¹, the White Paper outlines the ways in which we can, and must, come together to deliver this holistic change.

Through its summary of recommendations, the report identifies the owners, timelines and required actions within 4 key areas:

1	Data Develop robust data approaches to improve understanding, monitoring and surveillance of infection as patients move through the health and care system
2	Diagnostics and treatment Bridge the diagnostic-therapeutic gap and create a payment system fit for the future
3	End-to-end care Drive cultural change within the healthcare system to ensure that integration and shared working becomes commonplace
4	Awareness and education Improve education around the role and value of antibiotics, vaccines, and diagnostics at a public level

As a next step, the IMC is calling for the development of cohesive policy to support its roadmap of action. This includes working collectively to publish holistic infection management plans that support both immediate and long-term changes for the better.

Download the full report

Infection Management Coalition Paper

Published February 2022.

We must collectively take the lessons from COVID-19 and ‘build back better’ by improving diagnostics and the pace at which interventions are implemented to ensure that we are prepared for future infectious epidemics and pandemics. No one sector can achieve this single-handedly. We're committed and delighted to have had the opportunity to input into this White Paper and its recommendations, which aims to align with Government and truly advocate for a ‘One Health’ multi-sectoral approach to pandemic preparedness and infections management.”

Dr Tom Ashfield, Senior Medical Affairs Advisor, Antimicrobial Resistance and Stewardship, Pfizer UK

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