AIBS joined the American Society for Microbiology (ASM), the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), and 62 other organizations in sending a letter urging Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to convene the President’s Advisory Council on Combatting Antibiotic Resistance (PACCARB) as soon as possible, warning that delays are undermining the national response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The groups highlight that antibiotic-resistant infections affect more than 2.8 million people and contribute to over 160,000 deaths annually in the U.S., threatening the safety of routine and advanced medical procedures. Established in 2014, PACCARB provides critical guidance to federal agencies and private-sector stakeholders.
A scheduled January 2025 meeting to develop recommendations for the 2025-2030 National Action Plan was canceled during the Administration transition and has not been rescheduled. The letter calls for swift action to restore coordination and momentum in combating AMR.
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