Bill targets antimicrobial resistance

Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced this week legislation designed to address antimicrobial resistance via drug development targeting infections, improving antibiotics use, and ensuring domestic availability.

The Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance (PASTEUR) Act provides antibiotic researchers and developers with the resources and certainty needed to prepare for the threat resistant infections pose.

“We are living through the worst pandemic in a century, and infectious disease experts are sounding the alarm that drug-resistant bacteria will lead to another public health crisis,” Bennet said. “Our bipartisan legislation will better arm hospitals and providers in the fight against antimicrobial resistance by incenting development, targeting the most threatening infections, and encouraging the appropriate use of antibiotics.”

The lawmakers have cited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States report, which maintains
more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the nation annually, and at least 35,000 people die as a result.

“Antimicrobial resistance has become a growing crisis in recent years,” Young said. “Market failures have resulted in a lack of needed research and development in this field, which is a threat to public health. The PASTEUR Act will focus on educating health care providers on how to avoid overuse or misuse of these life-saving medications in order to slow the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.”