π Health and biotech

How to overcome the growing antibiotic resistance problem

3 episodes

1

The post-antibiotic era: a health disaster is predicted
2

One Health: efforts to find new antibiotics go beyond science
3

Key data: the antimicrobial resistance crisis

Épisode 1/3

The post-antibiotic era: a health disaster is predicted

Agnès Vernet, Science journalist

On June 16th, 2022

5 min reading time

Hannu Myllykallio

CNRS research director at LOB* at École Polytechnique (IP Paris)

Michael Mourez

Director of Innovation at DEINOVE

Key takeaways

In 2015, the O’Neill report showed that antibiotic resistance could kill more people than cancer by 2050.
The traditional approach of analysing the contents of an extract that kills the bacteria in the laboratory no longer works.
Some laboratories are trying to use phages, specific viruses, bacteria to create new therapeutic approaches.
As each infection is biologically unique, the meeting of a strain, host and context becomes more difficult.

Épisode 2/3

One Health: efforts to find new antibiotics go beyond science

Agnès Vernet, Science journalist

On June 16th, 2022

4 min reading time

Jocelyne Arquembourg

Professor at Université Sorbonne Nouvelle and Associate Researcher at Télécom Paris (IP Paris)

Karine Boquet

Deputy Director for Environmental Health, Chemicals and Agriculture at the Ministry of Ecological Transition

Jean-Luc Angot

Inspector General of Veterinary Public Health and Honorary President of the French Veterinary Academy

Key takeaways

The 2002 French campaign to reduce antibiotic consumption led to a 10% reduction in antibiotic prescriptions in the first six months of its launch.
But compared to other European countries, France remains very poorly positioned, 26th out of 29 according to data from Santé publique France, particularly in terms of consumption in human health.
“One health” governance remains a challenge for public action. The paradigm shift needs to be initiated at all levels to properly orientate actions.

Épisode 3/3

Key data: the antimicrobial resistance crisis

Agnès Vernet, Science journalist

On June 16th, 2022

2 min reading time

Agnès Vernet

Science journalist

Key takeaways

To avoid a health catastrophe, we not only need to find new antimicrobial solutions but also reduce unnecessary use of treatments.
In particular, the ECDC has published a recent infographic showing the evolution of antibiotic resistance in different bacteria.
This antibiotic resistance is also a veterinary problem because the use of antibiotics in livestock is one of the drivers.
252 antibiotic agents targeting priority pathogens are in preclinical phase. Only a small proportion of these molecules that will prove safe and effective in human health, and will not be available for a decade.

Contributors

Agnès Vernet

Science journalist

After her initial studies in molecular biology, Agnès Vernet trained as a science journalist at ESJ-Lille. For the past 14 years, she has been writing for various media, scientific magazines, professional titles and general press, in France and Switzerland. Since 1st February 2021, she is the elected President of the French association of science journalists (AJSPI).