The DISARM Act Proposes New Strategies to Fight The Growing Threat Of Antibiotic Resistance

19 October 2019

Antibiotics are a lifesaver—except when they stop working—and, unfortunately, that is happening more often as multidrug resistant bacteria render many previously useful antimicrobials ineffective. The CDC estimates that about two million people in the United States get an antibiotic-resistant infection every year and the rise of such infections has prompted the World Health Organization to list antimicrobial resistance among the top 10 global health threats for 2019.

In response to this threat, Senators Johnny Isakson (R-GA) and Robert Casey (D-PA) co-sponsored the Developing an Innovative Strategy for Antimicrobial Resistant Microorganisms (DISARM) Act of 2019, which features a multifaceted strategy for developing new antibiotics and protecting the effectiveness of existing antibiotics. Infection control remains paramount to staving off this growing threat in hospitals and long-term care.

Further reading: Infection Control Today

Author(s): Joan Vos MacDonald

Effective Surveillance