New centre to fight drug-resistant bugs through improving use of antibiotics

A new Imperial centre will pioneer research to optimise how antimicrobial drugs are used to both improve patient care and preserve antibiotics. Led by Professor Alison Holmes from the Department of Medicine, the Centre for Antimicrobial Optimisation (CAMO) will support and deliver innovative technologies to optimise the use of antibiotics, antifungals and antivirals to improve patient care and reduce the drivers of drug-resistant infections. This new centre brings together a range of expertise from across the College and partnerships with the NHS, to support and deliver research to improve infection management. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global issue and threatens current medical and surgical practice..we must therefore conserve our existing drugs Professor Alison Holmes Imperial College London Access to effective antimicrobial drugs (like antibiotics or antifungals) is critical in treating patients with bacterial, fungal and viral infections. However, there are very few new antimicrobial drugs being developed, so we must focus on optimising the use of those we have. Overuse of antimicrobials or using them for the wrong reason is fuelling antimicrobial resistance (AMR), leading to an increase in drug-resistant infections. This occurs when the microorganisms which cause infections such as bacteria and fungi develop resistance to treatments like antibiotics and antifungals.