A guide for how all countries could develop their national action plans to reduce risks for infections and antibiotic resistance to develop spread as a consequence of water pollution was just published. Behind the guide stands the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Organisation for Animal Health, with help from a range of academic experts.
Among other things, the report suggested numerous actions to reduce antibiotic pollution from manufacturing. These include e.g. strengthening of procurement systems to promote good pollution control, the development of antimicrobial manufacturing pollution standards, and revisions of national generic substitution systems so that not only low(est) price but also pollution control during manufacturing is valued when determining which antibiotic products should be reimbursed to the consumer.
Professor Joakim Larsson, director of CARe and also one of the experts behind the study comments:
I am pleased to see that the three major word-wide organizations with responsibility for human and animal health recognizes the need to take into account environmental components of antibiotic resistance. I think there is a strong value in providing specific recommendations on actions to different countries. For the aspect of pollution from manufacturing, this may contribute to more countries setting pressure, and thus greater possibilities to improve the situation on a global level.
The report can be found here: