Published 30/07/2012

Through its current campaign to halt the over-use of antibiotics in factory farms, Compassion in World Farming along with Sustain and the Soil Association have collaborated in a unique partnership with the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) to combat the concerns of antibiotic resistance.

The GSA is a coalition of close to 100 health bodies representing all countries, with 600,000 health workers worldwide. The World Sepsis Declaration, supported by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics, calls on the world to take immediate steps to reduce the global burden of sepsis which, according to the GSA is the primary cause of death by infection. Sepsis arises when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs.

The dangers of overusing antibiotics, particularly in low doses or incomplete courses is an extremely significant problem in regards to the treatment of sepsis. Antibiotic resistance can literally put lives at risk.

This new collaboration will drive the campaign to the phased ending of all prophylactic uses of antibiotics, with benefits affecting both humans and animals.

Through support from the GSA, this exciting collaboration will lead the way to achieving targets set by the Alliance to Save Our Antibiotics;

• A target to reduce overall antibiotic use on EU farms by 50% by 2015;
• Specific controls on the use in livestock of 'critically important' human antibiotics;
• Closing the loophole whereby antibiotics can still be used as growth promoters on farm animals in the EU.