22 Sep 2011

Antimicrobial resistance, or the ability of microorganisms to withstand treatment with drugs to which they were once susceptible, is a significant public health problem. In response to this threat and further to the call for strengthened transatlantic cooperation against this issue as expressed during the 2009 EU and US Summit, the Transatlantic Taskforce on Antimicrobial Resistance (TATFAR) published today its report, including a set of 17 recommendations in three key areas for future cooperation in the global fight to keep antimicrobials effective. Also presented is a list of major ongoing activities being undertaken by the EU and the US which provide opportunities to learn from each other, points to areas of future collaboration and highlights novel and highly successful projects.   Many topics were taken into consideration by the members of TATFAR during their meetings and through several public consultations made by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the European Commission. However, TATFAR addressed in the recommendations only those that fell within the mandate given to it at the 2009 US-EU Summit.   In order to ensure that these recommendations are transformed into concrete actions, the TATFAR recommends extension of its mandate for two additional years. During this time, the TATFAR intends to monitor the implementation of the recommendations via biannual audio conferences. At the end of the two year extension, a face-to-face meeting would be held to review progress and consider potential next steps.  Read the report