Antibiotics may have absolutely no effect within a few decades

The increased resistance of bacteria to antibiotics is a global problem. Antibiotics are increasingly less effective. Microbiologist Dr. John Hays of Erasmus MC in Rotterdam is sounding the alarm: "The problem is so dire that within a few decades antibiotics will have absolutely no effect".  Dr. Hays heads a European Union-funded international study aimed at promoting new diagnostics for infectious diseases and multi-resistant bacteria.  The sooner the infection is identified, the better it can be combated. Antimicrobial treatments can then be tailored to the infection more quickly whereby the likelihood of developing resistance is reduced.

The development and use of rapid, so-called 'Point-of-Care' diagnostic tests (for use by the hospital bed, in a family doctor's office, or even at home)  is one of the solutions to combat the rapid and global spread of antibiotic resistance. However, information on the potential obstacles and benefits of these tests is required in order to optimize their development and evaluation. Dr. Hays asks for help from the general public, family doctors and clinicians in completing a short 5 minute questionnaire on this subject so that your opinions can be used to better target and fight antimicrobial resistance.