We would like to invite our readers to comment in the Perspectives Forum section of the newsletter on the communication of resistance issues. This resistance management arena is important and is often overlooked, especially in the early period of resistance or in a resistance outbreak situation.

In addition, it is difficult to accomplish the communication of resistance information from such varied compass directions around the globe. This difficulty arises for three reasons. First, by the time refereed journal articles are published, resistance is often old news and it is too late to initiate management strategies. Second, methods of identifying resistance vary and are often under scientific and practical scrutiny. These methods are frequently and forcefully debated, particularly in the early stages of resistance reporting. Third, a public/private/policy rift can often result from the miss-reporting, false reporting, or early reporting of resistance.

These difficulties in resistance communication pose a number of questions. What have we learned in reporting resistance? How effective are these systems? How could they be more effective? What are the technical parameters around which these systems should be developed and expanded? How can we maintain both security and validity in reporting and making data available? Which experts ought to evaluate the information? Which information should be communicated and when? How can modes of reporting be used locally, regionally, nationally, and globally in resistance management?

These questions require input from the many areas of resistance mangement in order to ensure effective communication. For this reason, we encourage you to visit the Perspectives Forum and let us know how you feel about resistance communcation methods and issues.