The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) issued a multi-faceted plan to fight antibiotic resistance and the creation of “superbugs” on Thursday, Apr.7, which was also World Health Day 2011.
In a press release issued the same day, it states a doomsday scenario of sorts:
Infections are becoming increasingly resistant to existing antibiotics, while the number of new antibiotics being developed has plummeted. IDSA warns that unless sweeping actions are taken now, the future could resemble the days before these miracle drugs were developed. People will die of common infections and many medical interventions we take for granted – surgery, chemotherapy, organ transplantation, and premature infant care – will no longer be possible.
According to IDSA President James M. Hughes, MD, FIDSA, “The way we’ve managed our antibiotics for the past 70 years has failed. Antibiotics are a precious resource, like energy, and we have a moral obligation to ensure they are available for future generations.”
Hughes goes on to say, “IDSA has a comprehensive, multifaceted plan to address this crisis, but time is running out. If such measures are not implemented now by Congress, federal agencies and health care providers across the country an increasing number of lives will be devastated and lost.”
Whether it’s MRSA, Acinetobacter baumanii or now Klebsiella pneumoniae, the incidence has risen dramatically.
IDSA's new policy paper, published in the journal, Clinical Infectious Diseases is titled "Combating Antimicrobial Resistance: Policy Recommendations to Save Lives". Here the IDSA makes the following recommendations:
• Creating incentives and removing economic and regulatory disincentives for antibiotic research and development so companies find developing new antibiotics a viable business endeavor.
• Recalibrating and better communicating the FDA's requirements for new antibiotic approvals.
• Funding antibiotic R&D efforts under the Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority and proposed independent strategic investment firm.
• Supporting R&D for rapid diagnostic tests to identify the cause of infections more quickly.
• Designating a leader within HHS to facilitate coordination of federal efforts and better utilize outside experts.
• Promoting the judicious use of available antibiotics through better stewardship programs and infection control practices.
• Creating an Antimicrobial Innovation and Conservation Fee to help pay for drug development and stewardship.
• Strengthening public health measures and research that lead to new interventions.
• Establishing non-profit public-private partnerships to invest in bringing new antibiotics to market.
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