According to Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) some infections [farm animal antibiotic use] is the main source of resistance. In particular, they point to Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli and some strains of MRSA.


CIWF recently made a number of recommendations for antibiotics in farming including: a legally binding timetable to phase out prophylactic antibiotic use in animals; a target to reduce total farming antibiotic use by 80 per cent by 2025; and an immediate ban on the use of certain groups of antibiotics known to be important in human medicine.


Over the last 30 years no major new antibiotics have been discovered.


However, at the end of 2015 a team of scientists based in St Andrews and Oxford announced they had discovered the structure of a protein called neuraminidase in the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, a common cause of pneumonia.


This protein is known to help sustain and spread the infection.


Finding its structure might allow the development of drugs to tackle this infection in a different way.


Garry Taylor, Professor of Molecular Biology at St Andrews said: “We’re now beter equipped to design the next generation of antibiotics for some of the most prevalent and deadly respiratory infections”.


However, we need to be cautious: drugs acting on similar proteins in influenza viruses already exist and have proved much less effective than was hoped for or expected.


In the meantime, the World Health Organisation has called for “coordinated action” to tackle resistance. They want policymakers to: improve monitoring of the extent and causes of resistance; strengthen infection control and prevention; and regulate and promote appropriate antibiotic use.


They advise health professionals should enhance infection control in hospitals and health centres; only prescribe antibiotics when they are truly needed; and ensure they prescribe the right antibiotic for the condition they are treating.


Te World Health Organisation has called for “coordi- nated action” to tackle resistance.


And they want everyone to wash their hands and avoid close contact with infected people; use condoms to prevent the spread of sexually-transmited infections; get vaccinated and keep those vaccinations up to date; use antibiotics only when they are prescribed by qualified health professionals; complete full courses, even if feeling beter, and never share antibiotics or use leſtover prescriptions.


Sally Davies


Shona Robison


Dr Keiji Fukuda


Garry Taylor


34


February 2016


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