On Oct. 11, the U.S. Government released the next National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, 2020-2025, presenting coordinated, strategic actions to change the course of antibiotic resistance (AR) in the next 5 years. WSHA will focus on this topic a lot in the coming weeks, including with Antibiotic Awareness Week Nov. 18-24. WSHA is looking to share some of your success stories of antimicrobial stewardship, even amidst the challenge of COVID-19 this year. Please email Tina Seery with any examples to highlight how your hospital is being Antibiotics Aware!
Antibiotic-resistant infections kill more than 35,000 people in the United States each year. To protect people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will continue to lead the public health response to AR across the One Health spectrum, which connects the health of people to the health of animals and the environment (soil, water).
The new plan includes CDC activities to combat antibiotic-resistant infections in healthcare, food and farms, animals, communities, and the environment, both at home and abroad. As health care providers, hospitals have an important role to play in AR and stewardship.