Nature: Use antimicrobials wisely
Peter S. Jørgensen, researcher at the Global Economic Dynamics and the Biosphere at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and colleagues

“…Tackling [antibiotic] resistance urgently requires the scaling back of the massive overuse of antibiotics to secure the liveability of Earth in the long term. … A U.N. declaration currently under discussion must set global targets, accelerate implementation of the [2015 Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance], plug its gaps, and ensure stronger accountability and interagency coordination. It must emphasize the many benefits of microbes. … The complexity and gravity of [drug] resistance call for the immediate mass mobilization of society. Maintaining the susceptibility of microbes to drugs for global health is a matter of sustainable development. Improving understanding about humankind’s dependence on the global microbiome should lead to action on many other important issues involving microorganisms. These issues include infectious diseases, food security, natural resources, and environmental conservation. … This month’s U.N. high-level meeting is a rare opportunity for global collective action on human interactions with microbes. It must protect both the lifesaving power of antibiotics and the ability to use them when necessary” (9/7).