International Experts Join Forces against Superbugs at the 4th World Forum on Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance

27 Juni, 2013

bioMérieux commits to supporting expert-defined global priorities.

 Over 70 world renowned experts in the field of antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infections met in Annecy for the 4th edition of the World HAI Forum, organized by bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics and leader in microbiology. These experts in infection prevention and control, infectious diseases, microbiology and epidemiology, patient safety as well as representatives from health organizations shared their experience and expertise to define priorities to address the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance.

 
Antimicrobial resistance is now recognized as one of the major global public health challenges of the 21st century. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and generates significant additional healthcare spending.
 
Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, England, qualified bacterial resistance as a “catastrophic threat for the population”. Likewise at last-week’s G81 Summit, antimicrobial resistance was listed as a top priority amongst urgent global health challenges. Indeed, the incidence of antimicrobial resistance continues to rise as a direct result of excessive and inappropriate use of antimicrobials in both humans and animals. We are experiencing the emergence of new bacterial strains, known as “superbugs”, which are resistant to nearly all antibiotics. These new multi-resistant microorganisms know no borders, neither between countries nor between humans and animals, for whom cross-infection has been confirmed.
Thomas Frieden, Director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, recently issued a warning on this new type of “nightmare bacteria”.
 
During the HAI Forum, experts agreed on a certain number of priority actions to fight against antimicrobial resistance. Amongst them, bioMérieux committed itself to support the following actions:
- assess the global burden of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use through worldwide surveys involving an international alliance. This action aims at providing indicators for global measurement of antibiotic use and resistance;
- carry out a multi-center interventional study to document the lasting benefits of prudent antibiotic use in order to produce tangible proof and best practices to be shared among healthcare professionals.
 
The initial results of these efforts are estimated to be available within 18 months. As part of its long-standing commitment to public health, bioMérieux continues its investment in research and development for new diagnostic solutions which contribute to the fight against infectious diseases and a better use of antibiotics.
 
Emerging viral strains such as coronavirus MERS-CoV3, or influenza, as well as conditions inducing bacterial resistance represent a highly-significant risk to public health, especially in hospital settings. Due in particular to such high-level scientific meetings as the World HAI Forum, bioMérieux can explore innovative diagnostic solutions to face the emergence of these new pathogens, which pose a serious threat to public health today.
 
1 G8 (Group of Eight) : Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom, United States
2 CDC : Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
3 MERS : Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
 
To find out more:
· Consult the 10 priorities established by the World HAI Forum experts: www.biomerieux.com
· Hear what experts discussed at the 4th World HAI Forum: www.youtube.com/biomerieuxdiagnostic
 
About the World HAI Forum
Organized from June 23-25, 2013, the 4th edition of the World HAI Forum on healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance was characterized by the high-level expertise and exceptional international representation with participants from 31 countries. 
A world leader in microbiology and a pioneer in resistance detection and susceptibility testing, bioMérieux works closely with healthcare professionals in the key areas of healthcare-associated infections prevention and antimicrobial resistance. The role and contribution of diagnostic tests are essential for success in the fight against these infections. One session of the World HAI Forum focused particularly on this area.
 
As part of its commitment in the fight against infections, bioMérieux organizes meetings all over the world. To facilitate scientific exchange and the development of a worldwide network of experts, over the past 3 years, symposia have been held in about 10 other countries including the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, China, Japan, Korea, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, in order to encourage the use of even more efficient diagnostic solutions.
 
About bioMérieux
Pioneering Diagnostics
A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for 50 years, bioMérieux is present in more than 150 countries through 41 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors. In 2012, revenues reached €1,570 million with 87% of sales outside of France.
bioMérieux provides diagnostic solutions (reagents, instruments, software) which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products are used for diagnosing infectious diseases and providing high medical value results for cancer screening and monitoring and cardiovascular emergencies. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
bioMérieux is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris market (Symbol: BIM – ISIN: FR0010096479).
Corporate website: www.biomerieux.com
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