CDC microbiologist Valerie Albrecht, M.P.H., holds up two Petri dish plates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Antibiotic-resistant infections are associated with 2 million illnesses and 23,000
CDC microbiologist Valerie Albrecht, M.P.H., holds up two Petri dish plates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Antibiotic-resistant infections are associated with 2 million illnesses and 23,000 deaths in the United States each year, according to the CDC. Estimates of the annual effect of these infections on the U.S. economy range from $20 billion in excess health costs to $35 billion, including lost productivity from sick days and hospitalizations.
Despite efforts by various entities to tackle one element of this problem or another, it continues to grow at a rapid pace. In response, President Obama signed an executive order(www.whitehouse.gov) on Sept. 18 directing key federal departments and agencies to take comprehensive action to fight the rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria, according to a White House fact sheet.(www.whitehouse.gov)
Specifically, the executive order establishes a new Task Force for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, as well as a Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. The task force is to be co-chaired by the secretaries of Defense, Agriculture and HHS and is charged with submitting a national action plan to the president that outlines specific actions the 