Experts gather in reaction to antibiotic resistance threat

World health experts gathered at the University of Edinburgh yesterday to find new ways of fighting antibiotic resistant infections

The conference was organised due to a report published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, which warns of a transferable strain of disease in China that is resistant to all drug currently available and could cause a global epidemic.

The University of Edinburgh said it's estimated that by 2050 the global death total of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) infections could reach 10 million people each year.

The Edinburgh event allowed specialists from India, the UK and USA to collaborate on new ways of diagnosing AMR infections.

The University of Edinburgh’s Till Bachmann headed the conference. Bachmann said: “Innovation in diagnostics to tackle anti-microbial resistance needs the brightest minds.

“We have therefore created an international competition on antimicrobial diagnostics to connect and inspire the next generation of researchers.

“We are absolutely delighted to see so much talent and expertise gathered in Edinburgh to discuss and debate new ideas at the Autumn School.”