Surveillance Systems to Confront Antibiotic Resistance
Surveillance Systems to Confront Antibiotic Resistance
Recently, the U.S. President of the United States issued the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, which features the strengthening of surveillance as a fundamental component. The plan contemplates routine reporting of antibiotic use and resistance data to the NHSN by most U.S. hospitals, as well as monitoring of antibiotic use and resistance along the continuum of food production, from farms to processing plants to supermarkets. The National Action Plan also calls for the creation of a regional public health laboratory network offering genetic characterization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A 'one-health' approach, where the health of humans is recognized to depend on the wellbeing of animals and the conservation of the environment, is emphasized throughout the plan. Therefore, one of the goals is to integrate data from the NHSN, Emerging Infections Program, and the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for foodborne and enteric bacteria, with data from the National Animal Health Monitoring System, the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network. An additional goal is to develop laboratory-based surveillance to detect and monitor antibiotic resistance in key animal and human foodborne pathogens in collaboration with the WHO and the World Organization for Animal Health.
A National Plan to Strengthen Surveillance
Recently, the U.S. President of the United States issued the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, which features the strengthening of surveillance as a fundamental component. The plan contemplates routine reporting of antibiotic use and resistance data to the NHSN by most U.S. hospitals, as well as monitoring of antibiotic use and resistance along the continuum of food production, from farms to processing plants to supermarkets. The National Action Plan also calls for the creation of a regional public health laboratory network offering genetic characterization of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A 'one-health' approach, where the health of humans is recognized to depend on the wellbeing of animals and the conservation of the environment, is emphasized throughout the plan. Therefore, one of the goals is to integrate data from the NHSN, Emerging Infections Program, and the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System for foodborne and enteric bacteria, with data from the National Animal Health Monitoring System, the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network. An additional goal is to develop laboratory-based surveillance to detect and monitor antibiotic resistance in key animal and human foodborne pathogens in collaboration with the WHO and the World Organization for Animal Health.
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