110th Congress

Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance Act

H.R. 3697, S. 2313

Background

Over the past decade, it has become increasingly clear that significant efforts are needed to address the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance. Antibiotics that have been the mainstay of our medical infrastructure are no longer proving effective as increasing numbers of pathogens develop mutations that render them resistant. This presents a significant problem with the emergence and reemergence of certain infectious agents, and cases of multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis and methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus infections are frequently reported. Such infections can result in serious illness, disability, and death and have both human and economic consequences. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), while serving in the House of Representatives, expressed concerns about the issue and introduced relevant legislation during the past several Congresses. He has continued to be interested in this issue since moving to the Senate and is joined in his concern by Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT). Both have introduced antimicrobial resistance legislation in the 110th Congress.

Provisions of the Legislation/Impact on NIH

Provisions of H.R. 3697 and S. 2313 that are of interest to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) would amend Section 319E of the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Office of Antimicrobial Resistance within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and a Public Health Antimicrobial Advisory Board. Members named to the advisory board would include representatives of NIH, other U.S. Department of Health and Human Services components, and other Federal agencies. The bills would also require the Secretary, acting through the Directors of the Office of Antimicrobial Resistance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and NIH and in consultation with other Federal agencies, to develop an antimicrobial resistance strategic research plan to strengthen existing epidemiological, interventional, clinical, translational, and basic research efforts and funding. In addition, the Secretary, acting through NIH and CDC, would be required to establish 10 Antimicrobial Resistance Clinical Research and Public Health Network sites to strengthen the national capacity to 1) describe and confirm regional outbreaks through surveillance of locally available clinical specimens, 2) assess and address antimicrobial resistance patterns, both locally and nationally, 3) facilitate research on prevention, treatment, and control of resistant organisms, and 4) serve as a clinical trials network in order to optimize the effectiveness of antimicrobials.

Status and Outlook

H.R. 3697 was introduced by Representative Matheson on September 27, 2007, for himself and Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael A. Ferguson (R-NJ), and Henry A. Waxman (D CA), and was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Twenty-one additional cosponsors have been added. No further action has occurred on this legislation..

S. 2313 was introduced by Senator Brown on November 6, 2007, for himself and Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT), and was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Three additional cosponsors have been added. No further action has occurred on this legislation.

April 2008