The Obama administration has announced several steps it’s taking toward combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. First, the administration released its National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.The strategy intends to enhance antibiotic stewardship; strengthen national surveillance capabilities; and expand the types of diagnostics, antibiotics, and other countermeasures available to combat resistant bacteria. The five goals of the strategy are as follows:
- slow the emergence and prevent the spread of resistant bacteria
- strengthen national efforts to identify and report cases of antibiotic resistance
- advance the development and use of rapid diagnostic tests for the identification and characterization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
- accelerate basic and applied research and development for new antibiotics as well as other therapeutics and vaccines
- improve international collaboration, capacities for antibiotic-resistance prevention, surveillance, control, and antibiotic research and development
President Obama also signed an executive order that directs federal departments and agencies to implement the strategy. It also establishes a task force and a presidential advisory council on the topic.
Finally, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released a related report on combating antibiotic resistance that provides recommendations.
The Obama administration believes that these three steps will significantly help the federal government curb the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, potentially saving thousands of lives.
Please contact Shawn Gremminger, MPP, director of legislative affairs, at sgremminger@essentialhosptials.org or 202.585.0112 with questions.
