Biography
Biography: Andrew Cross
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance threatens the viability of many recent medical advances such as organ transplants, hip replacements, cancer therapy, etc. Development of new antibiotics cannot keep up with resistance, partly because the “easy” antibiotics have already been developed, partly because the funding model does not incentivize companies to develop new antibiotics and partly because of the huge cost of validating new antibiotics nowadays. So what can we do? It is easy to say “use fewer antibiotics” but effective antibiotic stewardship requires control to be consistent around the world. Also, human behavior is hard to change; patients are accustomed to being prescribed antibiotics, even for self-limiting conditions and the number of patients with long-term conditions (e.g., diabetes, asthma) that merit antibiotic prescription is raising. Agriculture and aquaculture need to adapt, yet antibiotics have helped these industries provide low-cost food for the world's fast-growing population. Should we all eat less meat and fish? At work, employees can be under pressure to be at work rather than rest when unwell. 'Presenteeism' can not only worsen an illness or infection but also help it spread to colleagues and customers. In hospitals, approximately 25% of Intensive Care (ICU) patients acquire an infection (HCAI). Among other patients, the HCAI rate is around 6%. HCAIs typically require not only antibiotics but a prolonged stay in ICU. Globally, huge numbers of healthcare patients acquire avoidable infections that need antibiotics. Achieving even a modest reduction in HCAI rates will help to preserve our dwindling antibiotic stock.