Marc Siler

Sherrod Brown proposed the Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance

Act on April 10, 2014. Also known as the STAAR Act (S.2236), proposes to increase
the efforts to fight antibiotic resistance through a variety of methods. Mainly, the
purpose of this act is to involve the federal government more on the issue of
antibiotic resistance. There are many organizations (26) that support the STAAR
Act, including the American Society for Microbiology and the American Public
Health Association. The act proposes to use an Antimicrobial Resistance Office,
Task Force, and Advisory Board in order increase surveillance on antibiotic
resistance and use. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention noted the
importance of gathering data on antibiotic resistance and preventing misuse of
drugs in their 2013 report, Antibiotic Resistant Threats. Increasing surveillance
means that strategies can be developed once an understanding of antibiotic
resistance is gained. The task force and board can look at ways to prevent infections
from happening and spreading. Brown proposes the use of $100 million for the
STAAR Act to support the various programs and functions every year starting in
2015.
The 10 x 20 Initiative, which was started by the Infectious Diseases Society
of America proposes to research and produce 10 new antibiotics by the year 2020.
With the number of new antibiotics on a steady decline since 1980, this initiative
looks for a new commitment to produce new antibiotics. However, this may cost at
least $1.3 billion. There are other strategies to utilize that can help combat antibiotic
resistance.
Works Cited

Antibiotic Resistance Threats. Rep. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d. Web.
<http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/threat-report-2013/pdf/ar-threats-2013-
508.pdf>.
Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance, S. 2236, 113th Cong. (2014). Print.

"The 10 20 Initiative: Pursuing a Global Commitment to Develop 10 New
Antibacterial Drugs by 2020." Clinical Infectious Diseases 50.8 (2010): 1081-
083. Clinical Infectious Diseases. Oxford Journals, 19 Feb. 2010. Web. 7 May
2014.