What is Currently Being Done to Fight the Threats Associated with Antimicrobial-resistance?

Marion A. Kainer, MD, MPH, FRACP, FSHEA, director, Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Program, Tennessee Department of Health, outlines currently available strategies to avoid antimicrobial resistance.

Interview Transcript (slightly modified for readability)

“There is a lot of national momentum to fight antimicrobial resistance with the national action plan, to prevent antimicrobial resistance. The president signed an executive order to combat antimicrobial resistant bacteria. It focuses on preventing infections in the first place, making sure that we have appropriate use of antibiotics, that we ensure that this precious resource isn’t squandered.

The One Health Initiative [will help with] good surveillance, [by] understanding where we have antimicrobial-resistant organisms emerging, both in humans as well as on the farm. Ensuring that we have the appropriate diagnostics to be able to diagnose infections, and that we develop new therapeutic agents to treat infections which may become untreatable [is imperative]. International collaboration [is also important], because the United States is not an island. We have a lot of people who go overseas and then come back, and they may be colonized with multidrug-resistant organisms, such as [carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae].”