Chief Medical Officer to speak on antibiotic resistance

The Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Dame Sally Davies, is to outline the current national and international picture on antibiotic resistance in a speech at the University of Birmingham.

Professor Dame Sally will give the Institute of Microbiology and Infection annual Harry Smith Memorial lecture at the University’s College of Medical and Dental Sciences on Tuesday 25 March at 5pm.

This will include discussion of the impact and spread of resistance, as well as factors which are contributing to the development of resistance and increasing the already substantial risk to human health. 

The CMO will describe and explain the advocacy work she has been undertaking at home and abroad, and the recent progress that has been made on the issue, including the publication of the Government’s antimicrobial strategy. She will also discuss the action which still needs to be taken by governments, organisations, and individuals to reduce the spread of resistance, and to reduce its impact on health and society.

Professor Laura Piddock, Professor of Microbiology and Deputy Director of the University’s Institute of Microbiology and Infection, and Director of Antibiotic Action, the public engagement arm of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, is hosting the lecture. She said: “Dame Sally has taken a leadership role both here and abroad on the need to tackle antibiotic resistance and lack of new treatments for bacterial infections. 

“At Birmingham, we have a thriving microbiology research community investigating mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and fundamental bacterial biology.  We are now using this information as a basis for early drug discovery and so we are delighted that Dame Sally is visiting Birmingham.”

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Media are welcome to attend the lecture and Prof Piddock is available for interview. Please confirm attendance with Kara Bradley in the University press office on 0121 414 5134 or k.j.bradley@bham.ac.uk