The National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria outlines steps for implementing the National Strategy on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, and APIC applauds the plan, which focuses on the demand and supply sides of the antibiotic resistance problem, as well as addressing overuse of antibiotics by humans and agriculture.
The plan also outlines Federal activities to prevent and contain outbreaks of antibiotic-resistant infections; maintain the efficacy of current and new antibiotics; and develop and deploy next-generation diagnostics, antibiotics, vaccines and other therapeutics.
APIC is calling on Congress for funding of these programs, which can help protect from the rising number of people infected from antibiotic-resistant bacteria, as 2 million have developed infections, and 23,000 expected to die as a result.