The consensus statement, co-ordinated by BIVDA (the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association), in partnership with organisations and leading experts in the fields of diagnostics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) was co signed by College Vice President Dr Noha El Sakka OBE. The statement sets out a position underlining the need for action to enable the adoption of existing rapid diagnostic technology that can support antibiotic prescribing. The statement also sets out a series of recommendations for government and NHS England and other relavent system partners.
In the UK AMR is responsible for 12,000 deaths a year, the equivalent of deaths from breast cancer and more deaths than from suicide (approx. 6,500). Ten million people each year are predicted to die globally from AMR by 2050 unless urgent measures are taken.1
Faster, automated diagnostic platforms are important because they can help reduce the current time taken to identify infections and determine the correct antibiotic to use. This would reduce the length of time patients are on antibiotics before test results are available and in some cases remove the need for clinicians to prescribe antibiotics at all before test results are available. This will in turn help to prevent AMR developing.
You can read the consensus statement here: Coalition calls for testing to tackle threat of Antimicrobial Resistance - Press & Policy (bivda.org.uk)
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