State of the world's antibiotics, 2015

State of the world's antibiotics, 2015

Antibiotics Global health

This report from the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics and Policy in the US looks at the current state of antibiotic use and resistance in humans and animals globally. It examines the differences in low and middle income countries and some national strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. 

The State of the World's Antibiotics 2015 is accompanied by interactive maps that show resistance trends in 39 countries and antibiotic use in 69 countries. The maps track infections caused by 12 common and sometimes lethal bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Special Supplement on Health Equity

Special Supplement on Health Equity

Global health Health outcomes Public Health Social Sciences

Evidence shows that those with greater (economic and social) resources are more likely to have better health outcomes than those with lesser resources. Whilst health inequalities include differences in health outcomes that include those caused by natural biological variation, health inequities are health differences that are socially produced.

In 2005, The World Health Organisation (WHO) reiterated the urgent need to address the social causes of poor health and health inequities and established the Commission on Social Determinants of Health to provide guidance on how to tackle health inequities globally. VicHealth released Fair Foundations: the VicHealth framework for health equity in 2013 and has now commissioned eight rapid evidence reviews to investigate best and promising policy and practice to reduce health inequities within healthy eating, tobacco, physical activity, alcohol, mental well-being, settings for health promotion, early childhood development and social innovation investments.

Health Promotion International: Special Supplement on Health Equity, Volume 30 suppl 2 September 2015  

World Alzheimer Report 2015

World Alzheimer Report 2015

Dementia Global health

According to this report from Alzheimer's Disease International, there are over 46 million people live with dementia worldwide, and by 2050 this is estimated to increase to 131.5 million.

The report also looks at the economic impact of dementia, estimating its worldwide cost at US $818 billion. It is also estimated that 94% of people living with dementia in low and middle income countries are cared for at home, in regions where health and care systems often provide limited or no support to people living with dementia or to their families.The report "leaves us with no doubt that dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and other causes, is one of the biggest global public health and social care challenges facing people today and in the future."

World Alzheimer report 2015: the global impact of dementia. An analysis of prevalence, incidence, cost and trends.  Martin Prince, 25 August 2015.

WHO Global tobacco epidemic report 2015

WHO Global tobacco epidemic report 2015

Global health Smoking

This year's WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic details the continued success in global tobacco control.  Much progress has been made with their MPOWER measures in the last ten years. These include smoke-free environments, cessation programmes, warning labels, mass media, advertising bans and taxation. 

The report provides country-specific data and has a special focus on tobacco taxation (as the least implemented measure worldwide) in all WHO Member States.

Health and Climate Change - Lancet report

Health and Climate Change - Lancet report

Climate Global health Population

Health and climate change: policy responses to protect public health has been published by the 2015 Lancet Commission on Health and Climate Change.  It examines the impacts of climate change on the health of worldwide populations and suggests policy responses. This Commission includes 60 international experts from multidisciplinary fields and its central message is that tackling climate change could be the greatest global health opportunity of the 21st century.

Using clean renewable energy sources, energy-efficient buildings and active transport options are considered by the report authors to be particularly important in the effort to reduce air pollution and improve the incidence of heart disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes, mental illness and respiratory disease.

Antimicrobial resistance strategy

Antimicrobial resistance strategy

Antibiotics Global health Health policy Public Health

Responding to the threat of antimicrobial resistance: Australia's first national antimicrobial resistance strategy 2015–2019 has been released by the Australian Government this month. It was developed in partnership with industry and government, including the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare and aims to guide actions by governments, health professionals, farmers and veterinarians to respond to the threat of antibiotic misuse and resistance.

The Strategy document discusses the looming public health issues globally and nationally related to antimicrobial resistance and “calls on all stakeholders to support a collaborative effort to change those practices that have contributed to the development of resistance and implement new initiatives to reduce inappropriate antibiotic usage and resistance.”

Synthetic drugs in South-East Asia and Oceania

Synthetic drugs in South-East Asia and Oceania

Drug addiction Global health

The challenge of synthetic drugs in East and South-East Asia and Oceania : Trends and patterns of amphetamine-type stimulants and new psychoactive substances 2015 has been published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. The authors warn of the increase in demand for synthetic drugs in the region, as well as opportunities for transnational criminal groups to expand the illicit drug trade.

The report looks at the trends and developments in the market for both amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) and new psychoactive substances (NPS), It also looks at the challenges for governments in their efforts to respond to the threat.