The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 271 No 7259 p108
26 July 2003

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House of Lords: "Fighting infection" report (more)

England not prepared to fight infection

The Government must review its policy for vaccine procurement if it is to deal successfully with the threat of infectious diseases, the House of Lords select committee on science and technology has warned.

In a report entitled "Fighting infection" published last week, the committee calls for improvements in infection control, including a more secure supply of vaccines and better collaboration between health professionals involved in fighting infection.

It points out that few vaccines are made in England with most being purchased from manufacturers abroad. "In the event of a major global epidemic it is likely that overseas suppliers of vaccines would be under pressure to give priority to their own country's requirements," it warns.

The committee also says that, although England has not experienced major epidemics of infection in recent years, this "owes as much to good fortune as to good management". It points out that many organisations and health professionals are involved in infection control and that all relevant organisations need to understand their roles and responsibilities.

Lord Soulsby, chairman of the committee, said: "Arrangements for formal collaboration between those involved in the fight against infection are poor and lines of accountability unclear. The government should address this as a matter of urgency."

He added: "Pharmacists can provide information about infections and play an important role in surveillance in the local area." Pharmacists also have an important role in antibiotic management and in warning against the inappropriate use of antibiotics, he said.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's science secretary, Dr John Clements, agreed that information available in pharmacies about the prevalence and degree of different infections could become part of a wider approach to surveillance at the local level.

"Additionally, we strongly support the committee's call for research funding. There are simply too few scientists and professionals who are trained in microbiology to put proper systems of infection control in place and, like the Lords, we wish to see this remedied."

He added that recent Department of Health funding for pharmacists to play a more central role in tackling the problem in hospitals (PJ, 14 June, p813) is a crucial step forward. "We also need to increase general understanding of the scientific basis of resistance, and work together to avoid squandering the effectiveness of our antibiotics," he said.

The report is published by the Stationery Office, ISBN 010 400262 X, price £12.50. The report is also available here.