News & Reports
antimicrobial resistance
US government sets out action plan for addressing antimicrobial resistance THE role that veterinarians can play in addressing antimicrobial resistance has been recognised in a national action plan published recently by the US federal government. The main purpose of the USA’s National Action Plan for Combating AntibioticResistant Bacteria is to guide actions by the US government. However, it is also intended to help guide action by public health, healthcare and veterinary partners ‘in a common effort to address urgent and serious drug-resistant threats that affect people in the US and around the world’. The plan has been developed in response to an executive order issued by President Obama last year, and outlines steps for implementing the USA’s National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. The goals of the action plan include: n Slowing the emergence of resistant bacteria and preventing the spread of resistant infections. n Strengthening national One Health surveillance efforts to combat resistance. n Advancing the development and use of rapid and innovative diagnostic tests for identification and characterisation of resistant bacteria. n Accelerating basic and applied research and development for new antibiotics, other therapeutics and vaccines. 376 | Veterinary Record | April 11, 2015
n Improving international collaboration and capacities for antibiotic resistance prevention, surveillance, control and antibiotic research and development. The government hopes that, by 2020, implementation of the plan will lead to major reductions in the incidence of ‘urgent and serious threats’, such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobactericeae, meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium difficile infection. It also hopes that the plan will result in improved antibiotic stewardship in healthcare settings, prevention of the spread of drugresistant threats, elimination of the use of medically important antibiotics as growth promoters in food animals, and expanded surveillance for drug-resistant bacteria in food animals. Implementation of the objectives and activities described in the action plan will, the US government says, require ‘sustained, coordinated, and complementary efforts of individuals and groups around the world, including healthcare providers, healthcare leaders, veterinarians, agriculture industry leaders, manufacturers, policymakers and patients. All of us who depend on antibiotics must join in a common effort to detect, stop, and prevent the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria.’
Responsible use
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has welcomed the inclusion of veterinarians in the goals and objectives of the plan. ‘The veterinary profession routinely works at the interface between human and animal health, and the AVMA believes that veterinarians are best suited to make medical decisions – including the use of antibiotics in animals – to ensure that public health, animal health and welfare, and food safety are all protected,’ it said. It also welcomed the One Health approach discussed in the plan. ‘Providing a safe, healthy food supply is of the utmost importance. Therefore, the AVMA strongly believes that the judicious use of antibiotics in food animals, administered with veterinary oversight, is an essential component of any plan to combat antibiotic resistance.’ The association said it looked forward to working with the federal agencies and other organisations and individuals to provide input and guidance on implementing the plan, to allow veterinarians to continue to protect the US’s food supply by providing the best treatment and health care to food animals. doi: 10.1136/vr.h1838
Copyright of Veterinary Record: Journal of the British Veterinary Association is the property of BMJ Publishing Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
antimicrobial resistance
US government sets out action plan for addressing antimicrobial resistance THE role that veterinarians can play in addressing antimicrobial resistance has been recognised in a national action plan published recently by the US federal government. The main purpose of the USA’s National Action Plan for Combating AntibioticResistant Bacteria is to guide actions by the US government. However, it is also intended to help guide action by public health, healthcare and veterinary partners ‘in a common effort to address urgent and serious drug-resistant threats that affect people in the US and around the world’. The plan has been developed in response to an executive order issued by President Obama last year, and outlines steps for implementing the USA’s National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. The goals of the action plan include: n Slowing the emergence of resistant bacteria and preventing the spread of resistant infections. n Strengthening national One Health surveillance efforts to combat resistance. n Advancing the development and use of rapid and innovative diagnostic tests for identification and characterisation of resistant bacteria. n Accelerating basic and applied research and development for new antibiotics, other therapeutics and vaccines. 376 | Veterinary Record | April 11, 2015
n Improving international collaboration and capacities for antibiotic resistance prevention, surveillance, control and antibiotic research and development. The government hopes that, by 2020, implementation of the plan will lead to major reductions in the incidence of ‘urgent and serious threats’, such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobactericeae, meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium difficile infection. It also hopes that the plan will result in improved antibiotic stewardship in healthcare settings, prevention of the spread of drugresistant threats, elimination of the use of medically important antibiotics as growth promoters in food animals, and expanded surveillance for drug-resistant bacteria in food animals. Implementation of the objectives and activities described in the action plan will, the US government says, require ‘sustained, coordinated, and complementary efforts of individuals and groups around the world, including healthcare providers, healthcare leaders, veterinarians, agriculture industry leaders, manufacturers, policymakers and patients. All of us who depend on antibiotics must join in a common effort to detect, stop, and prevent the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria.’
Responsible use
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has welcomed the inclusion of veterinarians in the goals and objectives of the plan. ‘The veterinary profession routinely works at the interface between human and animal health, and the AVMA believes that veterinarians are best suited to make medical decisions – including the use of antibiotics in animals – to ensure that public health, animal health and welfare, and food safety are all protected,’ it said. It also welcomed the One Health approach discussed in the plan. ‘Providing a safe, healthy food supply is of the utmost importance. Therefore, the AVMA strongly believes that the judicious use of antibiotics in food animals, administered with veterinary oversight, is an essential component of any plan to combat antibiotic resistance.’ The association said it looked forward to working with the federal agencies and other organisations and individuals to provide input and guidance on implementing the plan, to allow veterinarians to continue to protect the US’s food supply by providing the best treatment and health care to food animals. doi: 10.1136/vr.h1838
Copyright of Veterinary Record: Journal of the British Veterinary Association is the property of BMJ Publishing Group and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.
