“We are currently faced with not only a decline in the effectiveness of available antibiotics, but also a decline in the development of new antibiotics,” AMA Board Member William Kobler, MD, said in a statement. “That’s why it is extremely important that we continue to take steps to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics across all healthcare settings. It will take a coordinated, multi-sector and multi-pronged approach to address this public health epidemic.”
Included in the new policy is adequate funding for public health and veterinary health agencies to improve surveillance of antimicrobial resistance and antibiotic use. This improved surveillance alights with the White House’s National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria and should help to identify areas where resistance originates and how those bacteria are transmitted, according to the AMA.
Due to the impact of agricultural antibiotic use, existing AMA policies also call for bringing an end to the practice of using medically-important antibiotics for growth promotion in livestock. The policy was approved during the AMA’s interim meeting, during which an educational session for physicians was provided to share the latest tools for improving antibiotic stewardship in healthcare settings.
More articles on antibiotic resistance:
Current practices creating a ‘perfect storm’ for antibiotic resistance: 6 takeaways
CDC offers resources for ‘Get Smart About Antibiotics Week’
Use of certain antibiotics to treat MRSA ‘superbug’ may make infection worse
