On September 25, during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, the United States announced The AMR Challenge—an ambitious global initiative to combat the growing threat of Antibiotic Resistance.
This unprecedented effort, led by the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CDC, charges governments, private industries and non-governmental organizations from around the world to work together to address antibiotic resistance by:
- Reducing antibiotics and resistance in the environment (e.g. in water and soil);
- Improving antibiotic use, including ensuring people can access these medicines when they are needed;
- Developing new vaccines, drugs, and diagnostic tests;
- Improving infection prevention and control; and
- Enhancing data sharing and data collection.
HHS Secretary Alex Azar announced the challenge at an event co-hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the United Nations Foundation, Wellcome Trust and the CDC Foundation. Secretary Azar unveiled the first commitments from organizations intent on building on progress against one of the greatest global public health threats.
“In the United States, drug-resistant bacteria infect 2 million people each year and more than 20,000 people die as a result. Aggressive global action is needed to slow the development of new resistance, prevent the spread of existing resistance and spur development of new antimicrobial products,” stated Alazar.
Read the CDC Press Release
Join the AMR Challenge
Follow #GlobalAMRChallenge
We are working within our region to help slow the emergence of resistance bacteria and prevent the spread of resistant infections. We are sharing information and education on the principles of antimicrobial stewardship – ‘coordinated interventions designed to improve and measure the appropriate use of antimicrobials by promoting the selection of the optimal antimicrobial drug regimen, dose, duration of therapy and route of administration’. We are partnering with practitioners, pharmacists, system leadership as well as consumers of care. Antibiotics are a precious resource and preserving their usefulness will require cooperation and engagement by all. Learn more.