The language of antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance is blocking global collective action

Abstract

Sustainable access to effective antibiotics is a foundational need for functioning health care that is increasingly threatened by antibiotic resistance. Although resistance has been known as long as antibiotics have been in clinical use, there are still multiple gaps in the global and local responses. One often cited cause for this complacency is the language that is used to describe the problem and its consequences. In this paper, we survey some examples of the current discussions around antibiotic resistance and seek to offer a path towards unified and understandable messaging that is relevant both to the public and policymakers by using narratives that highlight the individual and societal consequences of antibiotic resistance. Major shortcomings in the current language that hamper both the understanding of antibiotic resistance and needed behaviour change have been identified in scientific papers and special reports. These shortcomings range from terminology that is difficult to understand, through a lack of personal relevance, to a fragmented response in the policy field. We propose that scientists, including behaviour change experts, and other key stakeholders that are engaged in the issue take lead to agreement on the core scientific facts and to formulate a vision that can be a foundation for creation of consistent global narratives. These narratives must in turn be adapted to local contexts. Development of such narratives should be viewed as an essential component in national action plans on AMR to raise awareness, empower citizens and incentivise societal behaviour change, policy development and implementation of governance structures.

Keywords:

• Antibiotic resistance
• antimicrobial resistance
• narratives
• behaviour change
• policy
• governance
• microbiome

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a background paper written by MK for the dialogue meeting “The global need for effective antibiotics – unlocking barriers for collective action” arranged by Uppsala University and ReAct-Action on Antibiotic Resistance. Meeting report: https://www.reactgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ReAct_Report_Unlocking_Barriers_For_Collective_Action_Oct_2023_web.pdf

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).