PCAST releases 'Combating Antibiotic Resistance' report to POTUS

WASHINGTON — As the evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria occurs at an alarming rate, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology announced that it released to the president last week a report, called "Combating Antibiotic Resistance."



The report was released simultaneously with a National Strategy on Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria, as well as with a Presidential Executive Order emphasizing the importance of addressing this growing challenge



The evolution of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is outpacing the development of new countermeasures. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the annual domestic impact of antibiotic-resistant infections to the U.S. economy has been estimated at $20 billion in excess direct healthcare costs, with additional costs to society for lost productivity as high as $35 billion per year and 8 million additional days in hospitals. The safety of many modern medical procedures — including cancer chemotherapy, complex surgery, dialysis for renal disease, and organ transplantation — relies on effective antibiotics. These interventions become significantly more dangerous as bacterial resistance rises. Indeed, the World Health Organization recently warned that we risk entering a “post-antibiotic” era unless we act now.



PCAST recommends measures to strengthen antibiotic stewardship, boost surveillance and facilitate the development of new drugs, diagnostics and vaccines to combat this growing crisis.



Responsible stewardship of antibiotics requires identifying the microbe responsible for disease (ideally with rapid and inexpensive diagnostics); administering the most effective antibiotic at the appropriate dose, route, and time; and discontinuing antibiotic therapy when it is no longer needed. Optimizing the use of our current antibiotics in human health care and animal agriculture will extend the longevity of these life-saving medicines and maximize their benefits, PCAST stated.

 

Increased surveillance for antibiotic-resistant bacteria will enable more effective responses to resistant strains, support earlier identification of outbreaks and limit the spread of resistant organisms. Improved surveillance will help address fundamental questions of where resistant infections originate, practices that contribute to emergence and how resistant microbes are being transmitted, according to PCAST.



Even with improved stewardship and surveillance, PCAST said that it is critical to develop new antibiotics, diagnostics, vaccines and other interventions at a rate that outpaces the emergence of resistant microbes. A robust antibiotic pipeline is essential for creating new antibiotics to replace those being steadily lost to antibiotic resistance. Establishing this pipeline and successfully addressing the rise in antibiotic resistant bacteria will require coordination across governmental, academic, health-related, agricultural and private sectors.



PCAST added that, in the fight against microbes, no permanent victory is possible: As new treatments are developed, organisms will evolve new ways to become resistant. This reality underscores how essential it is to embark on a course of action that will ensure an effective and enduring arsenal of antibiotics. Committing to combating antibiotic-resistant microbes will support patient care, economic growth, agriculture and economic and national security. By taking the recommended steps, the United States and global community will continue to reap the benefits of these medicines.