[Ip-health] PRESS RELEASE: SciDev.Net looks at the antibiotic time bomb

[SciDev.Net]

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26 March 2008
For immediate release

Are antibiotics becoming a 'non-sustainable' drug supply?

With increasing resistance to existing antibiotics; and little incentive fo=
r pharmaceutical companies to invest in new ones ― developing countri=
es face a serious challenge combating killer diseases such as tuberculosis =
and typhoid fever.

Read SciDev.Net's new spotlight on antibiotic resistance: http://info.scide=
v.net/t/286477/8781465/6005/0/

SciDev.Net's latest resource highlights the need to raise public awareness =
of the situation and calls on governments to safeguard the future of their =
populations' health ― by prioritising drug resistance monitoring and =
educating healthcare workers.

Sponsored by ReAct (Action on Antibiotic Resistance), the resource brings y=
ou expert views and information about the scale of the problem, drivers of =
resistance, the economic implications of growing resistance, diagnostics, a=
nd investment into new drugs.

Editorial

Surveillance vital for tackling antibiotic resistance
International surveillance systems are needed to curb the rise of antibioti=
c resistance, says Hajo Grundmann.

Features

Antibiotic resistance: Frequently asked questions
Priya Shetty answers some common questions surrounding antibiotic resistanc=
e, and the dangers for the developing world.

Antibiotic resistance and the developing world
Many factors are increasing antibiotic resistance, and authorities, doctors=
 and patients all have a role in fighting it, writes Jia Hepeng.

Opinions

Reducing antibiotics not enough to stem resistance
Reducing antibiotic use is not enough to curb the rise of resistance in the=
 developing world, say Zulfiqar A. Bhutta and Syed Rehan Ali.

Antibiotic resistance calls for better diagnostic labs
Tackling antibiotic resistance requires well-run diagnostic laboratories, s=
ays Pradeep Seth.

Prizes, not prices, to stimulate antibiotic R&D
With the worldwide growth of resistance, new antibiotics are increasingly n=
eeded. But R&D can be expensive and time-consuming, says James Love.

All SciDev.Net material is free to reproduce provided the organisation and =
author are credited.

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Notes for Editors
SciDev.Net (the Science and Development Network) seeks to help individuals =
and organisations in the developing world make informed decisions on scienc=
e and technology issues impacting on social and economic development.

It does this by providing reliable and authoritative information through a =
free-access website containing news, views and analysis about science and t=
echnology in the developing world.

In addition, SciDev.Net builds regional networks of individuals and institu=
tions who share its commitment to improving science and technology communic=
ation, and organises workshops and other events in the developing world to =
build capacity in this field.

SciDev.Net is supported by the journals Nature and Science, as well as the =
Academy of Sciences for the Developing World.

To find out more visit: www.scidev.net

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