The Conversation: When the drugs don’t work: how we can turn the tide of antimicrobial resistance
Roisin McMahon, researcher at Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery at the Griffith University, and Maurizio Labbate, senior lecturer in microbiology at the University of Technology Sydney

“A new report by the Australian Academy of Science has called for the Australian government to take immediate action to counter the growing resistance of bacteria to antibiotics, a problem known as antimicrobial resistance. The paper particularly highlights addressing shortfalls in research funding, food labeling, and collaborations between sectors. … The report’s recommendations include: 1. Fund interdisciplinary research in antimicrobial resistance … 2. Create a national agency to coordinate changes in antimicrobial use and demand … 3. Clarify the role of human and animal waste in antimicrobial resistance … 4. Label antibiotic use in food production … These recommendations support the Australian government strategy [on antimicrobial resistance] and will help buy us vital time to identify and deliver solutions to antimicrobial resistance” (1/31).