In a related story, researchers from the National Institutes of Health have published a special communication about antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Resistant organisms cause more than 2 million infections per year in the United States, resulting in more than 23,000 deaths. The authors sought to identify factors associated with AMR and possible remedies. The authors reviewed more than 100 relevant articles, databases, and reports. They concluded that AMR represents significant risks to human health and that a diverse set of factors causes AMR. These factors include inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, use of antibiotics outside healthcare (including agriculture), and genetic factors intrinsic to bacteria. They also cited inadequate economic incentives for the development of new antimicrobial agents. They suggested that “modified use of antimicrobial agents and public health interventions, coupled with novel antimicrobial strategies, may help mitigate the effect of multidrug-resistant organisms in the future.” (JAMA 2016;316:1193-1204)
Researchers suggested that “modified use of antimicrobial agents and public health interventions, coupled with novel antimicrobial strategies, may help mitigate the effect of multidrug-resistant organisms in the future.”
You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
- Award-winning Medical Content
- Latest Advances & Development in Medicine
- Unbiased Content