FEATURE TACKLING ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
resistance to these drugs has also spread because the more we use antibiotics the more opportunities there are for bacteria to evolve resistance. In the past we’ve been far too liberal. For example, by using antibiotics routinely to make livestock grow faster. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the
greatest challenges facing humanity today. We can only fight back by giving researchers around the world the means to work together on pioneering research to confront the problem from all sides, and move towards tangible solutions.
“ We have been overusing antibiotics
for decades to treat mild infections that would usually get better on their own
Social science research is a crucial component in this endeavour and ESRC has been working with the six other UK research councils, along with other UK funders, on a cross-council initiative to identify a number of research challenges in tackling the rise in AMR. There is a vast amount of research taking place and by working together, we believe that UK researchers will remain at the heart of effort to tackle antibiotic resistance.
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The careful use of antibiotics, making sure that those who need them can benefit but that they are not over-used, is known as ‘antibiotic stewardship’.
What are we doing? We provide the strategic direction and financial support to enable researchers in the UK to work collaboratively, locally and globally to control resistance and to develop new scientific approaches. That strategy includes addressing
10 SOCIETY NOW WINTER 2018
Tackling antimicrobial resistance A
The ESRC has been working on a cross-council initiative to identify research challenges in tackling the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and funding research projects that put social and behavioural issues at the forefront of the fight against it. By Mark Gardner
NTIBIOTICS WERE DISCOVERED in the early 20th century. Ever since then we’ve been using them to treat and cure infections and diseases. Unfortunately
patient demand, developing alternative treatments and new antibiotics, and reviewing farming practices. But we also need to improve awareness and understanding of antimicrobial resistance with good communication, education and training and research can underpin these things too. The Science Museum in London has opened
its doors to a new exhibition, sponsored by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), called Superbugs: The Fight For Our Lives. The free exhibition highlights the causes of antibiotic resistance, such as the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, what the solutions might be, and how we can all get involved in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics. The exhibition runs until spring 2019. As part of WHO World Antibiotics Awareness
Week (November 2017) the research councils’ produced a range of information for a general audience about our work in this area, including a video, blogs, research overview and timeline of AMR. We also produced a new newsletter for those involved in AMR research. To find out more visit:
www.rcuk.ac.uk/research/xrcprogrammes/tackling- antimicrobial-resistance/antimicrobial-resistance- uk-research-overview/ What is ESRC funding? ESRC has been the main financial backer of research projects that put social and behavioural issues at the forefront of the fight against antibiotic resistance. Other funders joined this effort, including the Department of Health, the Medical Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. Some examples of the exciting research now underway are: Anti-Microbials In Society (AMIS): a Global Interdisciplinary Research Hub, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, ES/P008100/1 Policymakers are agreed that we must reduce our reliance on these medicines. But how? Efforts to change patient behaviour are often called for but have not had the widespread impact required to curb the emergence and spread of resistance. This research proposes that antibiotics are embedded within our socioeconomic infrastructure in such a deep way that attempts to change behaviour of patients, physicians of farmers are peripheral to our underlying dependency on their use. By understanding the ways in which antibiotics are intertwined with our lives, institutions and infrastructures today
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