S-1996-03-1996_OVE
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L’ASSOCIATION MEDICALE MONDIALa, INC ASOCIACION MEDICA MUNDIAL, INC
THE WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. INC.
B. P. 63 – 01212 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE Cedex. France
28. avenuedes Alpes – 01210 FERNEY-VOLTAIRE, France
Telephone: 04 50 40 75 75
Fu : 0450405937
October 1996
Cable Address:
WOMEDAS, Ferney-Voltaire
10.120
OriginaJ: English
WORLD MEDICAL ASSOCIATION STATEMENT
ON
RESISTANCE TO ANTIMICROBIAL DRUGS
Adopted by the 48th General Assembly
Somerset West, RepUblic of South Africa, October 1996
PREAMBLE
The global increase in resistance to antimicrobial drugs, including the emergence of bacterial
strains resistant to all available antibacterial agents, has created a public health problem of
potentially crisis proportions.
The development of resistant microorganisms is a problem whenever antimicrobial agents are
used. The increase in high risk populations who frequently require antimicrobial therapy,
including immunocompromised patients, those undergoing invasive medical interventions, and
epatients with chronic debilitating diseases has amplified the problem.
In addition, substantial misuse and overuse of antimicrobial agents has exacerbated the
problem by adding selection pressures to microbial populations that favor mutation to antibiotic
resistance. This includes inappropriate prescribing of antibacterial prophylactics and/or
treatment of bacterial infections by physicians, poor compliance with antimicrobial regimens by
patients, and the availability of antimicrobial agents without a prescription in many developing
countries.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. The World Medical Association and its member national medical associations should
encourage the World Health Organization (WHO) and individual governments to
cooperate with and enhance the effectiveness of the WHO’s global network of
antimicrobial resistance surveillance.
2. National medical associations should encourage their governments to fund more basic
and applied research directed toward the development of innovative antimicrobial agents
and vaccines, and on the appropriate and safe use of such therapeutic tools.
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The pharmaceutical industry should be encouraged to pursue research and development
programs leading to the availability of innovative antimicrobiaJ agents and vaccines.
National medical associations should urge their governments to require antimicrobial
agents to be available only through prescription by licensed qualified health care and
veterinary professionals.
National medical associations should encourage medical schools and continuing medical
education programs to educate physicians about appropriate use of antimicrobial agents.
Physicians, .especially trained in infectious diseases and clinical microbiology,should
assume leadership roles in their local hospitals and communities regarding appropriate
antimicrobial agent usage and antimicrobial resistance prevention and control programs.
Physicians should raise awareness amongst their patients of their antimicrobial therapy,
the risks and benefits, the importance of compliance with the prescribed regimen, and the
problem of antimicrobial resistance.
Governments, medical associations, and physicians should educate the pUblic in tt:.
appropriate use of antimicrobial agents and increase the awareness of the problem ..
antimicrobial resistance.
National medical associations in collaboration with veterinary authorities should
encourage their governments to restrict the use of antimicrobial agents as teed additives
for animals strictly to those which are not used tor humans.
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