New antibiotic initiatives spark more debate in Washington

The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology released a report Sept. 18 on combating antibiotic resistance, which accompanied the president’s executive order to create a government task force and presidential advisory panel on the issue.

Mary Clare Jalonick of the Associated Press reported the story, noting the order calls for increased oversight of antibiotic use in hospitals, better tracking of antibiotic use and developing new antibiotics, according to the latest issue on Influence Feed.

Within the food and agriculture influencer spheres, reactions were vocal. Critics such as U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and the Center for Science in the Public Interest expressed disappointment that President Obama had not included increased oversight of livestock antibiotic use in his order.

On behalf of the American Meat Institute, vice president of ccientific affairs Betsy Booren, PhD, stated, “We support further research and data collection to help ensure that the correct antibiotics are used in the correct circumstances in both human and animal medicine in order to best reduce antibiotic resistance in all populations.”

In a news release, the White House reiterated, “Committing to combating antibiotic-resistant microbes will support patient care, economic growth, agriculture, and economic and national security.”

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