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Health risks and mobility : a global challenge

Thierry Mathieu

 
NGO leader
International Association for Research in Hospital Hygiene  (AIRHH/IARHH)

Thierry MATHIEU,
Henri de MONTCLOS,
Anne-Marie SAIRE-MAUFFREY
Mail : thierry.mathieu31@gmail.com

Mobility of people is one of the conditions necessary for the exercise and the spread of democratic principles in Europe and worldwide. This mobility can be disrupted by important health discrepancies between countries. Thus, it is well established that the level of antibiotic resistance varies not only between northern and southern countries in the world, but also among European states. Several countries recently established special procedures for patients who are hospitalized coming from foreign countries, especially countries with high antibiotic resistance levels. This resistance to antibiotics is all the more a serious threat as the development of new antibiotics is very limited. Therefore, it requires a rapid answer in order to avoid increasing stigmatization of countries or groups of migrants.

 The local level of antibiotic resistance is closely related to the use of antibiotics in both human and veterinary medicine. Health policies are largely dependant on economic and epidemiologic conditions, and on mental representation of infection by individuals. The first stage of an effective response must be understood through a comparative analysis of policies for the proper use of antibiotics. This will of course be complementary to the messages of international organizations already engaged in major programs. This analysis will gather the views of local experts in healthcare-associated infections, and contribute to a description of policies, to a shared diagnosis and to the definition of principles of action. This step can be largely built through exchanges by mail or visioconference.

 The second step is to promote mobilization of healthcare workers around such principles. This will only be achieved through communication and dialogue during scientific seminars. These conferences will be organized in countries that volunteer to participate in the action. They will help to prepare a report to the Council of Europe.

 The third step is really the field action. It will mobilize a representative from the expert's group and national competent teams for interactive trainings. It is expected through this action not only a dissemination of the previously-defined principles but also, and perhaps most importantly, a feedback on the perception of health actors facing these problems. Further action could be structured around a network of pilot-hospitals that would agree to engage in proper use of antibiotics.

Expected actions
Report on health policies concerning the management of antibiotics.
Local seminars and training courses.

Agenda:
2011: Composition of the expert group, completion of the project;
2012: Call for contributions  from European correspondents. Synthesis Report
2013: Organization of seminars and training in the concerned countries

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