Survey examines antibiotic resistance concerns

A survey commissioned by the public education and advocacy group Research!America has determined Americans deem antibiotic resistance as a public health problem with a myriad of treatment implications.

Research!America officials said 65 percent of survey respondents consider antibiotic resistance to be a public health issue while 81 percent expressed concerns the situation would make more infections difficult or impossible to treat and even deadly.

Officials said work conducted by Zogby Analytics, in conjunction with the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), involved 1,004 adults. The survey also found that 73 percent of respondents said the federal government should provide incentives to encourage increased private sector investment in the development of new antibiotics while 83 percent believe pharmaceutical companies should develop more antibiotics.

Findings revealed 92 percent of respondents agree doctors and other healthcare professionals should only prescribe antibiotics when needed.

“Americans understand that antibiotic-resistant superbugs are a public health threat, and they support putting the public and private sector research continuum to work to address this intensifying health threat,” Mary Woolley, Research!America president and CEO, said. “Americans are calling for all hands on deck to confront [antiomicrobial resistance] AMR – the government, the private sector, health professionals, hospitals and individuals.”

Other survey findings include 61 percent of those surveyed said they are aware bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics can be spread from person to person and 76 percent of respondents aware antibiotic-resistant infections make medical procedures like surgery, organ transplants and cancer treatment much more dangerous. Only 21 percent of those surveyed said that no action is needed from the federal government on antibiotic research and development at this time.