Origin

The AMR Engagement Group originates from the PCAS (Pennsylvania Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship). Founded in 2015, PCAS focused on initiating projects for children and their caregivers in the state of Pennsylvania. 

PCAS is part of AMR Insights as of 2021. It thus opens itself to international cooperation with organisations with similar objectives and initiatives. Founded in 2015, PCAS focused on initiating projects for children and their caregivers in the state of Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania Consortium for Antimicrobial Stewardship (PCAS)

Pennsylvania’s unified response to the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria

Mission of PCAS

To prevent, detect, and control illness and death related to infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria by implementing measures to slow the emergence of resistant bacteria and prevent the spread of resistant infections; and to ensure the continued availability of therapeutics for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Goals of PCAS

1. To strengthen integrated surveillance efforts to characterize the emergence and spread of resistant infections, as well as policies, attitudes, and behaviors related to emergence and spread (e.g., prescriptions, and vaccination). “One-Health” refers to the integration of public health, animal, food, and environmental surveillance.
2. To implement programs, guidelines, and reporting policies that advance antibiotic stewardship among health providers, veterinarians, agricultural members, and the public in Pennsylvania based on the most accurate and current evidence from the social and life sciences
   1. To increase people’s understanding of the biological and behavioral mechanisms that increase antibiotic resistance
   2. To promote prevention activities that prevent the spread of infections, such as vaccination, hygiene and sanitation
   3. To decrease demand and prescriptions for unnecessary antibiotics
3. To advance the development and use of rapid and innovative diagnostic tests for identifying and characterizing an infection’s cause (e.g., viral, bacterial).
4. To promote collaboration among stakeholders, including state and federal agencies, academic institutions, physicians, health plans, medical centers, and public health organizations, who share the goal of reducing antimicrobial resistance.

PCAS Core Team

PCAS Coordinator:

Tabitha Reefer, MBA, MPH
N’kuchia Mikanatha, MPH, DrPH;  Pennsylvania Department of Health
Nicole Hackman, MD; Penn State Hershey Medical Group
Rachel Smith, PhD; Penn State CASHDF & CIDD

For more information on PCAS you can visit the PCAS Facebook website.