On Sept. 18, the Obama administration took unprecedented action to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, a significant public health problem that claims 23,000 lives and causes 2 million infections in the U.S. each year. The administration released a national strategy and executive order, which were accompanied by a report from the President’s Council of Advisors for Science and Technology (PCAST) and the announcement of a $20 million prize to spur the development of new diagnostics. This is the first administration to address the issue comprehensively by tackling overuse in humans and food animals and calling for innovation to create new drugs.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria, also known as “superbugs,” are a major threat to modern medicine. But how does resistance work, and what can we do to slow the spread? Read personal stories, expert accounts, and more for the answers to those questions in our four-week email series: Slowing Superbugs.
