Fighting the Impact of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Fighting the Impact of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Fighting the Impact of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) sent this bulletin at 04/30/2013 08:38 AM EDT

Fighting the Impact of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

04/30/2013 08:30 AM EDT

The resistance of bacteria to antibiotics and similar drugs—called antimicrobials—is considered a major public health threat by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its counterparts around the world.

 

Medical treatment of people infected with these antibiotic-resistant bacteria can become more complicated, leading to longer hospital stays, increased health care costs, and in extreme cases, to untreatable infections.

 

David White, Ph.D., chief science officer in FDA’s Office of Food and Veterinary Medicine (top left), and Edward Cox, M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA’s Office of Antimicrobial Products (bottom left), explain the challenges presented by antimicrobial resistance and the efforts being made to combat this public health risk.

 

Read this Consumer Update to learn more.