CDC Fighting Antibiotic Resistance

The “AMR Challenge”, a global initiative to combat the growing threat of Antibiotic Resistance (AR) to be led by CDC was discussed during the UN General Assembly in New York. CDC’s goal is for pharmaceutical and health insurance companies, medical professionals, government health officials, and other leaders worldwide to work together to address AR. 

The AMR Industry Alliance, generic and research-based pharmaceutical companies have agreed on a framework to promote responsible antibiotic manufacturing. AMR Industry alliance companies took a further step by publishing the first list of discharge targets available https://wwwamrindustryalliance.org/shared-goals/common-antibiotic-manuracturing-framework.

One company CARB-X is going to invest $80 million globally by December 2019 to support more than 40 product developers as they pursue new drug classes to treat gram-negative bacteria, work on new diagnostics to identify new resistance and infections faster, and develop new treatment alternatives and vaccines. CARB-X’s goal is to invest more than $500 million by 2021 to use to research and develop new antibiotics, vaccines, rapid diagnostics, and other life-saving products.

To further advance in the AR field, Aetna with a healthcare network including 1.2 million healthcare professionals and more than 5,700 hospitals plans to partner with state health departments to provide feedback to providers on their antibiotic prescribing performance, and to promote vaccinations.

To reach state and local health departments when faced with AR threats will require organizations to work together. These organizations may include the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE).

Earlier in September, CDC published “The Core Elements of Human Antibiotic Stewardship Programs in Resource-Limited Settings: National and Hospital Levels” to improve antibiotic use in healthcare setting worldwide.

Go to https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/healthcare/implementtion.html for further information on the report.