42
ANTIBIOTIC
RESISTANCE
&
STEWARDSHIP
Ohio senator reintroduces bill to
tackle antibiotic resistance
By Mackenzie Bean
S
en. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, on Aug. 13 reintroduced a
bill that outlines a multipronged approach to improve
federal surveillance, prevention, control and research into
antibiotic resistance.
The Strategies to Address Antibiotic Resistance Act would
offer healthcare facilities federal grants to research the
development and implementation of antibiotic stewardship
programs, and permit the CDC to partner with state health
departments on prevention work.
The legislation would also permit the government to reau-
thorize the Interagency Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force,
which was first formed in 1999 to coordinate agencies' ef-
forts to address antibiotic resistance, according to the CDC.
Mr. Brown first introduced the STAAR act in the Senate in
February 2018. The legislation was referred to the Commit-
tee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. n
CDC: Drug-resistant
salmonella infects
255 people
By Anne-Marie Kommers
A
strain of salmonella that may be resistant to
antibiotic treatment had sickened over 250
people in 32 states, the CDC announced
Aug. 22.
The strain infected 255 people from June 2018 to
March 2019. Sixty people were hospitalized and two
died. While most Salmonella patients recover on their
own, those with severe infections need antibiotics,
reported CW affiliate KTLA. The strain did not respond
to two drugs commonly used to treat Salmonella,
azithromycin and ciprofloxacin.
The infections have been linked to beef in the U.S.
and soft cheese from Mexico, suggesting the strain is
present in cattle from both countries. Eighty-nine of
those infected recently traveled to Mexico. n
