House favors study of antibiotic resistance

Washington-As a bill amendment allocating $5 million toward theresearch of antimicrobial resistance awaits introduction in the U.S. Senate,its companion received overwhelming approval in the House.

The amendment, added to the agriculture-spending budget in late July,was backed by a 271-140 vote. If passed by senators, it will earmark $5million toward funding components of the Action Plan to Combat AntimicrobialResistance within the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The House amendment, sponsored by Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, would payfor the research, data collection and surveillance of mounting antimicrobialresistance problems. It also gives FDA officials the flexibility to determinehow best to fund steps against antimicrobial resistance within the actionplan.

"We know that antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are beingseen more in emergency rooms," Brown says. "We know that overuseof and misuse of antibiotics exacerbate antibiotic resistance. But we needto know which drugs are being affected most, and how, when and why antibioticdrugs are being prescribed."

The deadline for the budget's passage is late September. From there,it will go to a conference committee to be finalized.

The complete story by Associate Editor Jennifer Fiala is featured inthe August issue of DVM Newsmagazine.