Communicating antimicrobial resistance and stewardship in the national press: Lessons from sepsis awareness campaigns

L Rush,C Patterson,L Mcdaid,S Hilton

doi:10.1016/j.jinf.2018.09.001

L Rush, C Patterson + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2018.09.001

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Abstract

1The Review on AMR was an expert panel commissioned by the UK Government in 2014 tasked with analysing the economic and social impacts of AMR and proposing solutions to these. 2NICE is a UK non-departmental public body that sponsored by but separate from the Department of Health that produces evidence-based guidance for health practitioners. 3NHS England is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health that oversees planning and delivery of health services in England. 4Note that circulation of the News of the World ceased in July 2011; the Sun on Sunday was launched by the same newsgroup in 2012, but is unavailable on the Nexis database.

Highlights

Clear messages from the scientific community warn of the threat to human health from increasing ineffectiveness of antibiotics as a result of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
Our study identifies for the first time potentially conflicting health messages about antibiotic use through differential framing of AMR and sepsis within United Kingdom (UK) newspapers
AMR was presented as a global issue, driven by multiple sectors, whose main health impact will be in the future

Summary

Introduction

Clear messages from the scientific community warn of the threat to human health from increasing ineffectiveness of antibiotics as a result of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The Surviving Sepsis Campaign aims for better implementation of treatment guidelines, while in the UK the Sepsis Trust campaigns for improved awareness among the public, health professionals and policymakers.[4,5] Early administration of antibiotics is central to improving outcomes, with survival reduced by 7.6% each hour that treatment is delayed.[6] Two high-profile reports identified that delays in initiating appropriate management are widespread within the UK healthcare system.[7,8] In 2016, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)[2] guidance urged health professionals to consider sepsis in any patient exhibiting signs of infection, in the same way they would consider myocardial infarction in patients with chest pain.[9]

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