APIC statement in support of the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
<0> APICLiz Garman, 202-454-2604 </0>
Today the Administration released a comprehensive plan that identifies critical actions to be taken by key Federal departments and agencies to combat the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The outlines steps for implementing the and addressing the policy recommendations of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) report on
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology () applauds the Administration for this interagency plan which appropriately focuses on the demand and supply sides of the antibiotic resistance problem and addresses overuse in the human and agricultural sections. The National Action Plan outlines Federal activities over the next five years to enhance domestic and international capacity 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’s 15,000 members have unique expertise in identifying sources of infections and limiting their transmission in healthcare settings and in the community. They are the linchpins between public health and individual healthcare facilities, working every day to:
Unfortunately, many healthcare facilities do not have enough staff dedicated to infection prevention and control. A recent found that one in two hospitals had only one or less than one full-time equivalent infection preventionist on staff.
APIC believes that our nation must do more to protect the 2 million people who develop infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria each year and the 23,000 who will die as a result. More than half of all hospitalized patients will get an antibiotic at some point during their hospital stay, but have shown that 30 to 50 percent of antibiotics prescribed in hospitals are unnecessary or incorrect, contributing to the problem of antibiotic resistance. As a result, APIC calls on to fund the important programs that will give this National Action Plan a chance to succeed.
Antibiotic resistance is an urgent health concern that demands the full attention of healthcare professionals, policy makers, and the public. If there is any issue in which we should call on bipartisan support from Congress, it is focusing our nation’s attention on the vital resource that antibiotics are to our nation and to the world. The actions we take now will determine if we will return to a post-antibiotic era where even a small cut could prove fatal.
’s mission is to create a safer world through prevention of infection. The association’s more than 15,000 members direct infection prevention programs that save lives and improve the bottom line for hospitals and other healthcare facilities. APIC advances its mission through patient safety, implementation science, competencies and certification, advocacy, and data standardization. Visit APIC online at . Follow APIC on Twitter: and Facebook: . For information on what patients and families can do, visit APIC’s Infection Prevention and You website at .