ReAct, Uppsala UniversityAddress: Box 256, SE-751 05 Uppsala, Sweden

Phone: + 46 (0)18 471 66 07 E-mail: react@medsci.uu.se

www.reactgroup.org

Action on AntiBiotic RESiStAncE

Action on Antibiotic REsistAncEReAct is an independent global network for concerted action on antibi-otic resistance. ReAct aims for profound change in awareness and ac-tion to manage the interacting social, political, ecological and technical forces that drive the rising rates of resistant human and animal infec-tion and the rapid spread of resistance within and between communi-ties and countries.

ReAct acts as a forum for ideas, debate and collaboration between diverse stakeholders. We believe that change will depend on interac-tions between social movements, civil society, community and consumer organizations, academia, health policy reformers and those individu-als, networks or institutions that generate and analyze health-related knowledge and aim to catalyze such interactions.

ReAct operates an international secretariat with its administration based within Uppsala University.

ReAct does not accept membership or funding from companies or insti-tutions whose support might create a real or perceived conflict of interest.

Our vision is that current and future generations will have access to effective prevention and treatment of bacterial infections as part of their right to health.

Promoting rational use of antibioticsThe WHO estimates that more than half of all medi-cines are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropri-ately, and that half of all patients fail to take them correctly. This widespread irrational use of drugs is one of the most important reasons for antibiotics los-ing their effectiveness.

However, the relationship between antibiotic use and resistance is complex. Underuse, due to insuffi-cient access to effective antibiotics, inadequate dosing and poor adherence to therapy, may play as important a role in driving resistance as overuse. In addition, counterfeit and substandard drugs lead to treatment failure and may also increase the risk of resistance development in bacteria.

ReAct works to promote rational use of antibiot-ics in the broad sense, including training activities aimed at health professionals, advocacy and work with the WHO and other organisations to develop and implement guidelines and best practices. Moreover, we believe that sustainable solutions to antibiotic re-sistance require a profound change in how we view our relationship to micro-organisms, and therefore promote a new understanding and perception of the microbial world, while also removing blind fear.

increasing the visibility of antibiotic resistanceOne of ReAct’s central missions is to place and maintain antibiotic resistance on the global health agenda, aiming to make stakeholders at all levels aware of the urgency of the situation. Our work in this area includes publica-tions, newsletters, meetings and policy convenings.

suPPorting the DeveloPment anD imPlementation of Policy Platforms We strive to engage communities, health professionals, international organisations and academic centres to take action to better manage ABR.

It has become clear that strategies for ABR manage-ment cannot be designed in a one size fits all-manner, but need to be tailored to function in specific settings with specific conditions. ReAct strives to promote and facilitate the development of such strategies by provid-ing tools and communication materials. We work with national and regional partners to support the develop-ment of policy platforms for management of ABR, and we engage in projects concerning training of health workers and development of new tools to underpin pol-icy interventions.

eviDence generation The consequences of ABR are not readily visible in mor-tality and morbidity statistics. In parallel, estimates on the societal costs of antibiotic resistance are scarce. Data such as these are essential for informed policy-making; but in many parts of the world, especially in low- and middle income countries, these data are practi-cally non-existent.

ReAct seeks to fill the vital knowledge-gaps and to un-cover the actual costs of ABR. We work in different ways to stimulate the generation of essential data on the use of antibiotics as well as on the emergence and spread

of resistant bacteria. We also work to promote better assessment of the social and economic burden of ABR, which is essential to motivate necessary policy change.

Promoting innovation For many years, the research and development (R&D) of new drugs kept pace with that of bacterial resistance. During the 1940s through the 1960s, numerous anti-biotics were developed, but in the late 60’s it all came to a sudden halt and no new antibiotics classes were introduced until the year 2000. Since then the pipeline is virtually running dry.

ReAct has worked assiduously to push this critical is-sue higher on the political agenda, and maintaining the political momentum remains one of our main tasks.

This work also includes shepherding the develop-ment of new innovative financial incentives as well as re-engineering the R&D pipeline in order to create an enabling environment for novel, reliable, and affordable health products, from drugs to diagnostics.

Moreover, ReAct works to ensure that global needs are addressed and that aspects of access and affordabil-ity are considered in the process.

What We dO – themes

preserve the cureAntibiotics changed the world. Once major killers such as pneumonia, bloodstream infection, bacterial men-ingitis and tuberculosis became manageable health problems. However, after decades of antibiotic use and misuse, many pathogens have developed the ability to withstand antibiotic treatment.

The development and spread of antibiotic resistance (ABR) is now threatening to undermine one of the cor-nerstones on which modern medicine and healthcare rests. ABR, thus, poses one of the greatest global health challenges of our time.

The issue is comparable to that of climate change in the sense that both phenomena involve non-renewable global resources and are intrinsically linked to human behaviour.

Another similarity is that if we fail to turn the tide

all countries will be affected, but the poorest will suffer earliest and most.

The ongoing pandemic spread of resistant bacteria il-lustrates that the problem can only be addressed with the participation of all stakeholders, through cooperation at international, regional and local levels. The problem has been known since the discovery of antibiotics, yet lit-tle has been done in order to curb its dire consequences.

If we persist in disregarding this immediate threat, we will eventually find ourselves in a situation where common bacterial infections no longer can be treated.

What makes the prospects for the future even gloom-ier is the decline during recent decades in research and development of new antibacterial drugs.

Consequently, it is time for action on antibiotic resis-tance – it is time to react.

Our vision is that current and future generations will have access to effective prevention and treatment of bacterial infections as part of their right to health.

Promoting rational use of antibioticsThe WHO estimates that more than half of all medi-cines are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropri-ately, and that half of all patients fail to take them correctly. This widespread irrational use of drugs is one of the most important reasons for antibiotics los-ing their effectiveness.

However, the relationship between antibiotic use and resistance is complex. Underuse, due to insuffi-cient access to effective antibiotics, inadequate dosing and poor adherence to therapy, may play as important a role in driving resistance as overuse. In addition, counterfeit and substandard drugs lead to treatment failure and may also increase the risk of resistance development in bacteria.

ReAct works to promote rational use of antibiot-ics in the broad sense, including training activities aimed at health professionals, advocacy and work with the WHO and other organisations to develop and implement guidelines and best practices. Moreover, we believe that sustainable solutions to antibiotic re-sistance require a profound change in how we view our relationship to micro-organisms, and therefore promote a new understanding and perception of the microbial world, while also removing blind fear.

increasing the visibility of antibiotic resistanceOne of ReAct’s central missions is to place and maintain antibiotic resistance on the global health agenda, aiming to make stakeholders at all levels aware of the urgency of the situation. Our work in this area includes publica-tions, newsletters, meetings and policy convenings.

suPPorting the DeveloPment anD imPlementation of Policy Platforms We strive to engage communities, health professionals, international organisations and academic centres to take action to better manage ABR.

It has become clear that strategies for ABR manage-ment cannot be designed in a one size fits all-manner, but need to be tailored to function in specific settings with specific conditions. ReAct strives to promote and facilitate the development of such strategies by provid-ing tools and communication materials. We work with national and regional partners to support the develop-ment of policy platforms for management of ABR, and we engage in projects concerning training of health workers and development of new tools to underpin pol-icy interventions.

eviDence generation The consequences of ABR are not readily visible in mor-tality and morbidity statistics. In parallel, estimates on the societal costs of antibiotic resistance are scarce. Data such as these are essential for informed policy-making; but in many parts of the world, especially in low- and middle income countries, these data are practi-cally non-existent.

ReAct seeks to fill the vital knowledge-gaps and to un-cover the actual costs of ABR. We work in different ways to stimulate the generation of essential data on the use of antibiotics as well as on the emergence and spread

of resistant bacteria. We also work to promote better assessment of the social and economic burden of ABR, which is essential to motivate necessary policy change.

Promoting innovation For many years, the research and development (R&D) of new drugs kept pace with that of bacterial resistance. During the 1940s through the 1960s, numerous anti-biotics were developed, but in the late 60’s it all came to a sudden halt and no new antibiotics classes were introduced until the year 2000. Since then the pipeline is virtually running dry.

ReAct has worked assiduously to push this critical is-sue higher on the political agenda, and maintaining the political momentum remains one of our main tasks.

This work also includes shepherding the develop-ment of new innovative financial incentives as well as re-engineering the R&D pipeline in order to create an enabling environment for novel, reliable, and affordable health products, from drugs to diagnostics.

Moreover, ReAct works to ensure that global needs are addressed and that aspects of access and affordabil-ity are considered in the process.

What We dO – themes

preserve the cureAntibiotics changed the world. Once major killers such as pneumonia, bloodstream infection, bacterial men-ingitis and tuberculosis became manageable health problems. However, after decades of antibiotic use and misuse, many pathogens have developed the ability to withstand antibiotic treatment.

The development and spread of antibiotic resistance (ABR) is now threatening to undermine one of the cor-nerstones on which modern medicine and healthcare rests. ABR, thus, poses one of the greatest global health challenges of our time.

The issue is comparable to that of climate change in the sense that both phenomena involve non-renewable global resources and are intrinsically linked to human behaviour.

Another similarity is that if we fail to turn the tide

all countries will be affected, but the poorest will suffer earliest and most.

The ongoing pandemic spread of resistant bacteria il-lustrates that the problem can only be addressed with the participation of all stakeholders, through cooperation at international, regional and local levels. The problem has been known since the discovery of antibiotics, yet lit-tle has been done in order to curb its dire consequences.

If we persist in disregarding this immediate threat, we will eventually find ourselves in a situation where common bacterial infections no longer can be treated.

What makes the prospects for the future even gloom-ier is the decline during recent decades in research and development of new antibacterial drugs.

Consequently, it is time for action on antibiotic resis-tance – it is time to react.

Our vision is that current and future generations will have access to effective prevention and treatment of bacterial infections as part of their right to health.

Promoting rational use of antibioticsThe WHO estimates that more than half of all medi-cines are prescribed, dispensed or sold inappropri-ately, and that half of all patients fail to take them correctly. This widespread irrational use of drugs is one of the most important reasons for antibiotics los-ing their effectiveness.

However, the relationship between antibiotic use and resistance is complex. Underuse, due to insuffi-cient access to effective antibiotics, inadequate dosing and poor adherence to therapy, may play as important a role in driving resistance as overuse. In addition, counterfeit and substandard drugs lead to treatment failure and may also increase the risk of resistance development in bacteria.

ReAct works to promote rational use of antibiot-ics in the broad sense, including training activities aimed at health professionals, advocacy and work with the WHO and other organisations to develop and implement guidelines and best practices. Moreover, we believe that sustainable solutions to antibiotic re-sistance require a profound change in how we view our relationship to micro-organisms, and therefore promote a new understanding and perception of the microbial world, while also removing blind fear.

increasing the visibility of antibiotic resistanceOne of ReAct’s central missions is to place and maintain antibiotic resistance on the global health agenda, aiming to make stakeholders at all levels aware of the urgency of the situation. Our work in this area includes publica-tions, newsletters, meetings and policy convenings.

suPPorting the DeveloPment anD imPlementation of Policy Platforms We strive to engage communities, health professionals, international organisations and academic centres to take action to better manage ABR.

It has become clear that strategies for ABR manage-ment cannot be designed in a one size fits all-manner, but need to be tailored to function in specific settings with specific conditions. ReAct strives to promote and facilitate the development of such strategies by provid-ing tools and communication materials. We work with national and regional partners to support the develop-ment of policy platforms for management of ABR, and we engage in projects concerning training of health workers and development of new tools to underpin pol-icy interventions.

eviDence generation The consequences of ABR are not readily visible in mor-tality and morbidity statistics. In parallel, estimates on the societal costs of antibiotic resistance are scarce. Data such as these are essential for informed policy-making; but in many parts of the world, especially in low- and middle income countries, these data are practi-cally non-existent.

ReAct seeks to fill the vital knowledge-gaps and to un-cover the actual costs of ABR. We work in different ways to stimulate the generation of essential data on the use of antibiotics as well as on the emergence and spread

of resistant bacteria. We also work to promote better assessment of the social and economic burden of ABR, which is essential to motivate necessary policy change.

Promoting innovation For many years, the research and development (R&D) of new drugs kept pace with that of bacterial resistance. During the 1940s through the 1960s, numerous anti-biotics were developed, but in the late 60’s it all came to a sudden halt and no new antibiotics classes were introduced until the year 2000. Since then the pipeline is virtually running dry.

ReAct has worked assiduously to push this critical is-sue higher on the political agenda, and maintaining the political momentum remains one of our main tasks.

This work also includes shepherding the develop-ment of new innovative financial incentives as well as re-engineering the R&D pipeline in order to create an enabling environment for novel, reliable, and affordable health products, from drugs to diagnostics.

Moreover, ReAct works to ensure that global needs are addressed and that aspects of access and affordabil-ity are considered in the process.

What We dO – themes

preserve the cureAntibiotics changed the world. Once major killers such as pneumonia, bloodstream infection, bacterial men-ingitis and tuberculosis became manageable health problems. However, after decades of antibiotic use and misuse, many pathogens have developed the ability to withstand antibiotic treatment.

The development and spread of antibiotic resistance (ABR) is now threatening to undermine one of the cor-nerstones on which modern medicine and healthcare rests. ABR, thus, poses one of the greatest global health challenges of our time.

The issue is comparable to that of climate change in the sense that both phenomena involve non-renewable global resources and are intrinsically linked to human behaviour.

Another similarity is that if we fail to turn the tide

all countries will be affected, but the poorest will suffer earliest and most.

The ongoing pandemic spread of resistant bacteria il-lustrates that the problem can only be addressed with the participation of all stakeholders, through cooperation at international, regional and local levels. The problem has been known since the discovery of antibiotics, yet lit-tle has been done in order to curb its dire consequences.

If we persist in disregarding this immediate threat, we will eventually find ourselves in a situation where common bacterial infections no longer can be treated.

What makes the prospects for the future even gloom-ier is the decline during recent decades in research and development of new antibacterial drugs.

Consequently, it is time for action on antibiotic resis-tance – it is time to react.

ReAct, Uppsala UniversityAddress: Box 256, SE-751 05 Uppsala, Sweden

Phone: + 46 (0)18 471 66 07 E-mail: react@medsci.uu.se

www.reactgroup.org

Action on AntiBiotic RESiStAncE

Action on Antibiotic REsistAncEReAct is an independent global network for concerted action on antibi-otic resistance. ReAct aims for profound change in awareness and ac-tion to manage the interacting social, political, ecological and technical forces that drive the rising rates of resistant human and animal infec-tion and the rapid spread of resistance within and between communi-ties and countries.

ReAct acts as a forum for ideas, debate and collaboration between diverse stakeholders. We believe that change will depend on interac-tions between social movements, civil society, community and consumer organizations, academia, health policy reformers and those individu-als, networks or institutions that generate and analyze health-related knowledge and aim to catalyze such interactions.

ReAct operates an international secretariat with its administration based within Uppsala University.

ReAct does not accept membership or funding from companies or insti-tutions whose support might create a real or perceived conflict of interest.

ReAct, Uppsala UniversityAddress: Box 256, SE-751 05 Uppsala, Sweden

Phone: + 46 (0)18 471 66 07 E-mail: react@medsci.uu.se

www.reactgroup.org

Action on AntiBiotic RESiStAncE

Action on Antibiotic REsistAncEReAct is an independent global network for concerted action on antibi-otic resistance. ReAct aims for profound change in awareness and ac-tion to manage the interacting social, political, ecological and technical forces that drive the rising rates of resistant human and animal infec-tion and the rapid spread of resistance within and between communi-ties and countries.

ReAct acts as a forum for ideas, debate and collaboration between diverse stakeholders. We believe that change will depend on interac-tions between social movements, civil society, community and consumer organizations, academia, health policy reformers and those individu-als, networks or institutions that generate and analyze health-related knowledge and aim to catalyze such interactions.

ReAct operates an international secretariat with its administration based within Uppsala University.

ReAct does not accept membership or funding from companies or insti-tutions whose support might create a real or perceived conflict of interest.