Antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the greatest global health challenges of our time. As such, it has a high priority in German and global health policy. Increasing antibiotic prescribing and use in health care and agricultural is making more and more pathogens resistant to antibiotics. This resistance promotes the spread of various pathogens in the healthcare system, the general population and, ultimately, the environment as a whole.

Surveillance of these pathogens and hygiene measures to reduce their spread are already established approaches. On the other hand, the promotion of the rational use of antibiotics, usually described as "Antibiotic Stewardship" (ABS), is still being expanded. Our team is involved in an ABS research project in the field of outpatient medicine in Bielefeld and Ostwestfalen-Lippe. The focus is on antibiotic therapy for specific indications in various outpatient specialist groups (see project).

ABS is not only limited to the use of antibiotics in healthcare, however, but also deals with all other sectors of our economy and society where antibiotics are important. A comprehensive AMR strategy therefore requires a one-health perspective that encompasses different disciplines and sectors, taking into account local, national and international circumstances.

The focus of German and global efforts in the context of AMR and ABS are related to health care, research, health policy, economic and agricultural development, and population-based awareness and dialogue. Many of these efforts, however, remain more narrowly focused on “drugs and bugs”. However, the emergence and spread of AMR and the implementation of strategies, programmes and interventions to combat it effectively (including ABS) are strongly determined by people and their daily lives at home, at work and in communities. An better understanding of the complex interactions that lead to different risk profiles and health outcomes for different groups in the population – the causes of the causes –could increase the effectiveness and equitable impact of efforts to combat AMR.

In addition to the medical, microbiological and pharmacological aspects that are already the focus of attention, the AG 2 department is committed to examining health inequities, social determinants of health and gender considerations in the context of AMR through systematic and interdisciplinary research. In this way, we aim to contribute to the kind of radical, inclusive and cross-border (disciplinary, sectoral, national, etc.) collaboration needed to explore and effectively address this complex challenge.