Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
The global economic and clinical burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is rising and associated with increased morbidity and mortality in institutional/hospital and community settings. The major recommended approaches are rational use of antimicrobials, regulation on over-the-counter availability of antibiotics (in human and veterinary medicine), improving hand hygiene and improving infection prevention and control in the case of vascular access and surgical site management. Rapid molecular diagnostic technologies can assist healthcare professionals in determining which bacteria are causing an infection, whether they are resistant or susceptible to antibiotics, and which treatment to prescribe. Our fight in the European Parliament against AMR must be kept high on the agenda! Because all of us need to be resistance fighters.