On May 4, The Pew Charitable Trusts sent a letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, commenting on a draft of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018 (PAHPAI). The letter highlights the essential role that effective antibiotics play in responding to public health emergencies—including those resulting from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious disease—and calls for a dedicated authorization of appropriations to ensure the U.S. can be prepared for and respond to threats posed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Dear Chairman Alexander, Ranking Member Murray, Senator Isakson and Senator Casey,
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the discussion draft of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018 (PAHPAI), and your continued efforts to respond to the ongoing threat of antibiotic resistance. The recent spread of mcr-1, a gene that makes bacteria resistant to colistin, the antibiotic of last resort, serves as an alarming reminder of what the actual implications of antibiotic resistance are. Mcr-1 is particularly concerning because of the relative ease with which it can move from one bacterium to another, spreading colistin resistance to a wide variety of bacterial species leaving patients without any treatment options.
Antibiotic resistance does not refer to a specific disease or infection. But rather, effective antibacterials are central to the nation’s ability to respond to public health emergencies, including those resulting from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear attacks, pandemic influenza, and emerging infectious disease. Antibiotics underpin modern medicine and antibiotic resistance renders the entire health system vulnerable.
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) safeguards our nation’s health infrastructure by revitalizing and encouraging antibacterial innovation. BARDA’s Broad Spectrum Antimicrobials (BSA) program and ongoing support for the CARB-X accelerator fill critical gaps along the antibacterial pipeline, advancing development of products to address highly resistant infections and fostering breakthrough approaches to respond to resistance threats yet to emerge.
We very much appreciate the reference to antimicrobial resistance in section 404 of the discussion draft. We have attached proposed changes to the language in order to strengthen this provision. Below is an explanation of our recommendations.
Thank you for your consideration of this issue.
Sincerely,
Kathy Talkington
Antibiotic Resistance Project Director