NRP 72 syntheses nearing completion

​Vital importance of the results in view of the current health threats

The expectations for NRP 72 are high and, in view of the current global threats to health, its results are gaining in importance. Commissioned by the Federal Council and planned in close collaboration with the National Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance (StAR), NRP 72 is designed to make important contributions in the fight against antibiotic resistance.

With this aim in mind, the programme has launched a synthesis process: Researchers combine their results and expertise to derive recommendations for action and discuss these with practitioners. In accordance with the three modules of NRP 72, working groups (see box) of researchers in each module have been investigating an overriding topic over the past year:

Module 1 – How resistance develops and spreads

Resistance develops and spreads in a wide variety of processes in which human carriers of pathogens as well as animals and the environment are involved. Clarifying and monitoring key connections between these areas should help should help to target and break the spread of resistance. In this context, NRP 72 shows the huge potential offered, for example, by new technologies and methods such as whole genome sequencing and metagenomics in exploring and monitoring the phenomenon of resistance. NRP 72 also provides valuable new findings about "reservoirs" outside the medical setting that are involved in the spread of resistance, for example wastewater.

Module 2 – Novel active substances and faster diagnostic techniques

In the fight against resistant pathogens, both human and veterinary medicine urgently need new antibiotic substances. Faster diagnostic tests are also important in rapidly identifying resistance and treating humans and animals in a targeted manner. In this area NRP 72 has produced a range of promising approaches, some of which will now be developed further in the industrial setting. At the same time, the experience acquired during the programme has shown that major obstacles to a successful transfer to practice still exist. The Synthesis Working Group has therefore focused on coming up with new ideas for translation activities and market models.

Module 3 – Optimised use of antibiotics

The excessive or inappropriate use of antibiotics promotes the development of resistance. New decision-making tools and operational processes should help doctors, veterinarians and farmers use antibiotics more selectively. In addition to hospital medicine, which has known antibiotic stewardship programmes to support prescribing practices for some time, this partial synthesis also considers primary healthcare, which accounts for a much larger proportion of antibiotic use in human medicine. It shows ways in which antibiotic stewardship can also be implemented here. Another aspect focuses on "antibiotic-sparing" animal husbandry concepts which, thanks to improved animal health in a preventive approach, are able to manage with fewer antibiotics.

​Exchanging views among scientists and practitioners

The work is now well advanced in all three modules. To this end, the respective working groups have initially analysed NRP 72 projects and the rest of the current scientific literature. In parallel, all NRP researchers presented their results to the other researchers and the Steering Committee in a series of online events between January and June 2021, during which aspects of implementation were discussed in detail.

Furthermore, in order to bring in the views of practitioners, NRP 72 has set up a Sounding Board of practice partners in each of the three modules (see box) to monitor the exchange of views on conclusions and recommendations. Following this process, all synthesis teams have drawn up a series of practical recommendations. The next step, in autumn 2021, was to present these recommendations in three dialogue events to an extended group of practitioners, administrators and politicians for further refinement so that proposals for implementation can be drawn up.

Key messages and final recommendations of NRP 72 in 2022

In the next step, all three partial syntheses of NRP 72 will be completed, taking account of the extensive feedback from stakeholders. Finally, looking at the results as a whole, the Steering Committee of NRP 72 will draw up a programme summary presenting the key messages and final recommendations of NRP 72 for the attention of decision-makers. The partial syntheses and programme summary will be published in autumn 2022.