[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 182 (Friday, November 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ANTIBIOTIC STEWARDSHIP

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                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2018

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of World 
Antibiotic Week to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance and of ways 
to reduce and prevent it. Antibiotic resistance is one of the most 
urgent threats to our nation's public health, as it affects patients, 
our health care system, and others worldwide. According to the CDC, 
each year about 2 million people are sickened due to resistant 
infections and 23,000 lives are lost. While antibiotics are highly 
effective at treating bacterial infections, overuse and misuse of 
antibiotics has led to resistant strains of bacteria and so-called 
``super bugs'' that are hard or impossible to treat and will spread to 
other people.
  This is why we must protect the integrity of our antibiotic arsenal. 
One way this is achieved is through effective stewardship. Stewardship 
is giving the right antibiotic to the right person at the right time. 
Patients must first be tested to determine if they have a bacterial 
infection, then determine what type of infection, and lastly, determine 
the drug that best targets the infection. Without monitoring antibiotic 
usage, patients can be prescribed unnecessary antibiotics that lead to 
ineffective treatments.
  Healthcare professionals and hospitals are on the front lines in 
defending the public against antibiotic resistance, but they cannot do 
it alone. Effective stewardship programs need the right resources and 
funds to ensure that patient's bacterial infections are properly 
prescribed and administered. When done correctly, stewardship programs 
can reduce costs, improve patient outcomes, and reduce incidence of 
infections.
  Mr. Speaker, we must come together to address this critical public 
health concern. As hospitals and healthcare professionals come together 
to combat antibiotic resistance, we must stand alongside them and 
encourage the implementation and duration of stewardship programs. Our 
nation's health depends on it.

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