JPIAMR project

Aim of the project/ Project proposal

Worldwide strategies to control antibiotic resistance and its consequences (mortality, costs) are being developed, but are currently insufficiently, as for example demonstrated in the unchanged European consumption rates of antibiotics during the last years (RAND, 2016). Preliminary studies have shown that Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) practices and hospitals have lower antibiotic prescription rates and lower resistance rates compared to conventional practices based on additional prevention and treatment of infections strategies. In order to offer conventional physicians a safe and effective alternative to antibiotics and to reduce misprescribing and overprescribing of antibiotics broadly, the available practical expertise and scientific knowledge on CAM strategies must be explored and systemized. The working group will collect available information on the use of CAM strategies regarding the use and prescription of alternatives to antibiotics in The Netherlands, France, Germany, England and Switzerland. The Working Group will further focus on the development of an evidence and expertise based decision-making tool for (conventional) doctors and the implementation of this tool in the European countries.

  • Objectives of the JPIAMR project: The major objectives of the project are:
    • To provide an overview of expert and scientific knowledge on CAM/IM treatment of selected infectious diseases (Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs))
    • To develop a CAM/IM guidance document and if possible a first concept evidence- and expertise-based decision-making tool (DMT) for (conventional) doctors on a European level. A DMT commonly goes through several necessary steps:
      • Listing the options available
      • Quantifying the benefits and harms of each
      • Ensuring that the patient’s preferences are articulated and incorporated into the final decision
    • To provide a communication platform on the CAM/IM contribution
    • To develop a model for a sustainable process and organization for a phase II, in which more DMTs are developed.
  • National partners come from: Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, UK and probably France
  • Research: In order to get an overview of expert and scientific knowledge on CAM/IM treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (URTIs), we will do a survey among CAM experts in five countries and a systematic review of systematic review on CAM treatment of URTIs. The results of both studies will give input for a guidance document that is the basis for the development of a DMT. We combine Anthropsophic Medicine, Ayurveda, Homeopathy, TCM, Western Herbal.
  • Project deliverables:
    • Guidance documents (integrating the CAM expertise and the evidence
    • Decision-making tool (prototype)

Team members

The Netherlands

Erik W. Baars (coordinator JPIAMR working group). Position: MD, Msc Epidemiology, PhD. Senior researcher Healthcare, Louis Bolk Institute, Department of Health and Nutrition, The Netherlands. Professor Anthroposophic Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, The Netherlands.

Willem van Leeuwen. Position: Microbiologist. Professor Innovative Molecular Diagnostics, University of Applied Sciences Leiden, The Netherlands.

Germany

Thomas Breitkreuz. Position: MD, PhD. President of IVAA since 2013. Board member of Hufelandgesellschaft and Political Speaker since 2015.

Roman Huber. Position: MD, Professor, Center for Complementary Medicine of the Medical Center – University of Freiburg.

David Martin. Position: Professor of Pediatrics, Tübingen University, Senior Consultant for General Pediatrics, Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology, Oncology at the Filderklinik.

Harald Matthes. Position: MD, Medical director Havelhöhe clinic, Berlin. Professor Anthroposophic Medicine & Integrative Medicine, Charité University, Berlin.

Jan Vagedes. Position: MD, M.A., Pediatrician, Scientific Director of the ARCIM Institute, Scientific Member of the University of Tübingen.

United Kingdom

Merlin Willcox. Position: Academic Clinical Lecturer in Primary Health Care at the University of Southampton.

Esther Van der Werf-Kok. Research fellow primary care infection. Affiliation: Centre for Academic Primary Case, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol.