ID-CARE Director, Evelina Tacconelli, discusses antimicrobial resistance on Italian television

Yesterday, October 21st, Professor Evelina Tacconelli, ID-CARE Director, was invited to discuss one of the most pressing health challenges of our time, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), on the medical program Elisir, hosted by Italian broadcaster, Rai. 

Between 2018 and 2023, antibiotic resistance has increased by over 40%, and the numbers continue to rise steadily. This means that bacteria are becoming more capable of surviving antibiotic treatments. Prof. Tacconelli explained that one of the main causes is the inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics. However, she also emphasised that antibiotics remain essential, life-saving drugs. The key, she noted, lies in ensuring they are used responsibly and at the correct dosage.  

A recent World Health Organization (WHO) report revealed that Gram-negative bacteria are responsible for many infections in intensive care units and among people with weakened immune systems. Yet, AMR is not limited to hospitals. For example, Escherichia coli is a common cause of urinary tract infections, especially in women, while Gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted infection, is becoming increasingly resistant to available treatments. 

The consequences of antimicrobial resistance are serious: longer treatment times, reduced quality of life for patients, greater risk of complications, and higher healthcare costs. Italy, in particular, ranks first in Europe for antibiotic consumption. Of the roughly 33,000 annual deaths in Europe linked to AMR, around 11,000 occur in Italy alone. 

Prof. Tacconelli finally touched on the connection between intensive animal farming and antibiotic resistance. Studies have shown that meat and fish produced in intensive farms — where antibiotics are heavily used — contributes to the spread of resistance when consumed by humans. The good news, she noted, is that recent regulations now require continuous monitoring in the industry, helping reduce potential risks.  

Watch the full interview here: https://www.raiplay.it/dirette/rai3/Elisir---Puntata-del-21102025-b758b616-2dcd-4f45-9cd2-a1100043e15b.html 

Here at ID-CARE we are involved in many projects focussed on AMR, in particular the projects REVERSE and SAVE. 

REVERSE is a Horizon 2020 EU-Funded project for which the University of Verona is a partner and Work Package lead. The project develops and implements cost-effective strategies and tools for the prevention and clinical management of healthcare-associated infections due to multidrug-resistant organisms, aiming to reduce the burden of antimicrobial resistance in high-prevalence healthcare settings. Work Package 4, which the ID-CARE team leads, focusses on the development and organisation of the Antibiotic Stewardship Programme. 

SAVE, a project run by the University Hospital of Verona, aims to promote awareness and training of healthcare personnel regarding antibiotic prescriptions. In February 2023, the Firstline mobile App, developed through this project, was launched and made accessible to all the healthcare professional at the University Hospitals of Verona, following its two years of development, and successful pilot phase. The app, through guidance of appropriateness of various treatments, aims to reduce the use of antibiotics. During the pilot phase, the app was adopted within the COVID wards, the Paediatric area and in the two Emergency Departments of the hospitals.