Access to Reserve antibiotics, which are defined by the World Health Organization’s AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) classification framework as last-resort treatments for multidrug-resistant infections, remains poorly documented in Latin America and the Caribbean despite evidence of increasing antimicrobial resistance in the region, with associated and attributable mortality projected to rise. We examined the landscape of Reserve antibiotic access across Latin America and the Caribbean, identifying the systematic barriers that prevent patients from receiving appropriate treatment. We found that multiple interconnected obstacles—spanning regulatory approval, manufacturer participation, formulary inclusion, procurement systems, and health technology assessment capacity—create compounding delays and gaps in access.

Authors

Susana Ribeiro, Yanina Nuccetelli, Wanda Cornistein, Maria Ines Staneloni