White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship Convenes Government and Private Sector Leaders Committed to Improving Antibiotic Prescribing

White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship Convenes Government and Private Sector Leaders Committed to Improving Antibiotic Prescribing

June 3, 2015

By: Sylvia Mathews Burwell, HHS Secretary and Tom Vilsack, USDA Secretary

Few of us remember the time before antibiotics, when a simple infection could kill. With these miracle drugs, we opened the doors to the world of modern medicine, making surgery and even transplants not just safe, but possible.

And yet, 70 years after discovering penicillin, we face a new reality: The more we use antibiotics, the faster they lose their effectiveness.  Some infectious bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to the drugs designed to kill them, making them less and less effective in their ability to fight infection and illness.  Overuse and misuse of these drugs in humans and animals, could push us closer to a world where we are challenged to be able to treat and prevent some of even the simplest infections.
That’s why working to improve antibiotic use and combating the threat of antibiotic resistance is so important.  The Administration is committed to leading efforts to change how antibiotics are prescribed and used to address this growing health risk.
A world without effective antibiotics is a frightening prospect.  But our greatest threat isn’t evolution of bacteria—it’s inaction from people.  Through smart policies and cross-sector partnerships, we can make sure effective medicine is there when we need it. Together we will win this fight, because we must.
Combating and preventing antibiotic resistance is a long-term effort but public and private leaders can steward optimal use of antibiotics nationwide right now.

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