The Resistance Phenomenon in Microbes and Infectious Disease Vectors: Implications for Human Health and Strategies for Containment: Workshop Summary

The resistance topic is timely given current events. The emergence of mysterious new diseases, such as SARS, and the looming threat of bioterrorist attacks remind us of how vulnerable we can be to infectious agents. With advances in medical technologies, we have tamed many former microbial foes, yet with few new antimicrobial agents and vaccines in the pipeline, and rapidly increasing drug resistance among infectious microbes, we teeter on the brink of loosing the upperhand in our ongoing struggle against these foes, old and new. The Resistance Phenomenon in Microbes and Infectious Disease Vectors examines our understanding of the relationships among microbes, disease vectors, and human hosts, and explores possible new strategies for meeting the challenge of resistance. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary and Assessment 1. Introduction 2. Microbe Resistance 3. Vector Resistance 4. The Economics of Resistance 5. Factors Contributing to the Emergence of Resistance 6. Emerging Tools and Technology for Countering Resistance 7 Strategies to Contain the Development and Consquences of Resistance Appendix A: Publc Health Consquences of Use of Antimicrobial Agents in Agriculture Appendix B: Agenda: Issues of Resistance: Microbes,Vectors, and the Host Appendix C: Information Resources Appendix D: Executive Summary: WHO Report Appendix E: Executive Summary: GFHR Report Appendix F: Executive Summary: Interagency Task Force Report Appendix G: Forum Member, Speaker, and Staff Biographies