Experts Say Access to Antibiotics is a Safety and Equity Challenge for the Next Decade
Writing in a commentary in Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (2013), Jean Carlet, of the Hôpital St. Joseph in Paris, and Didier Pittet, of the University of Geneva Hospitals in Geneva, emphasize that bacterial resistance to antibiotics is increasing worldwide in healthcare settings and in the community. Some pathogens have become resistant to multiple antibiotics, if not all presently available, thus severely compromising treatment success and contributing to enhanced morbidity, mortality and resource use. The major driver of resistance is misuse of antibiotics in both human and non-human medicine. Both enhanced access and restricted use in many parts of the world is mandatory. The authors say there is an urgent need for an international, integrated, multi-level action to preserve antibiotics in the armamentarium of the 21st century and address the global issue of antimicrobial resistance.
Reference: Carlet J and Pittet D. Access to antibiotics: a safety and equity challenge for the next decadeAntimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control 2013, 2:1 doi:10.1186/2047-2994-2-1
Broadening the Path: Diverse Educational Routes Into Infection Prevention Careers
July 4th 2025Once dominated by nurses, infection prevention now welcomes professionals from public health, lab science, and respiratory therapy—each bringing unique expertise that strengthens patient safety and IPC programs.
How Contaminated Is Your Stretcher? The Hidden Risks on Hospital Wheels
July 3rd 2025Despite routine disinfection, hospital surfaces, such as stretchers, remain reservoirs for harmful microbes, according to several recent studies. From high-touch areas to damaged mattresses and the effectiveness of antimicrobial coatings, researchers continue to uncover persistent risks in environmental hygiene, highlighting the critical need for innovative, continuous disinfection strategies in health care settings.
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
