[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 121 (Thursday, June 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38832-38833]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-15847]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Food and Drug Administration

National Institutes of Health


Draft Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial 
Resistance

AGENCIES: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and 
Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of a document for 
public comment entitled ``Draft Public Health Action Plan to Combat 
Antimicrobial Resistance.'' This Action Plan provides a blueprint for 
comprehensive and coordinated efforts of Federal agencies

[[Page 38833]]

in addressing the emergence of antimicrobial resistance.

DATES: Comments must be submitted in writing on or before August 4, 
2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for copies of the Draft 
Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance should be 
made to the Office of Health Communication, National Center for 
Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
Mailstop C-14, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333; fax: 404-639-5489; 
or e-mail: [email protected]; or Internet URL: http://www.cdc.gov.drugresistance/actionplan/.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the Draft Public Health Action Plan to Combat 
Antimicrobial Resistance should be submitted to the Office of Health 
Communication, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, Mailstop C-14, 1600 Clifton Road, 
Atlanta, GA 30333; fax: 404-639-5489; e-mail: [email protected]; or 
Internet URL: http://www.cdc.gov.drugresistance/actionplan/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging 
public health threat that has been identified as an important priority 
by the Institute of Medicine and other expert bodies and is the subject 
of several proposed Healthy People 2010 goals relative to Infectious 
Diseases. In late 1998, CDC, FDA, and NIH recognized the need for 
better coordination and stimulation of the Federal response to this 
threat. In addition, in December of 1998, Senators William Frist and 
Edward Kennedy held a roundtable discussion on antimicrobial 
resistance, and a hearing was held in February 1999. Shortly 
thereafter, an Interagency Task Force on Antimicrobial Resistance was 
created to develop a Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial 
Resistance. The Task Force is co-chaired by CDC, FDA, and NIH, and 
includes the Health Care Financing Administration, the Health Resources 
and Services Administration, Agency for Healthcare Research and 
Quality, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Environmental Protection 
Agency.
    The Draft Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial 
Resistance, Part I focuses on domestic issues. Since AR transcends 
national borders and requires a global approach to its prevention and 
control, Part II of the plan, to be developed subsequently, will 
identify actions that more specifically address international issues. 
The Plan includes a summary and a list of issues, goals, and 87 action 
items addressing four focus areas: Surveillance, Prevention and 
Control, Research, and Product Development. For each action item, 
``coordinator'' and ``collaborator'' agencies/departments and timelines 
are specified. The Interagency Task Force will monitor, and if 
necessary, update the Plan, during the coming years.

Jeffrey P. Koplan,
Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Ruth Kirschstein,
Acting Director, National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Jane E. Henney,
Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
[FR Doc. 00-15847 Filed 6-21-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-18-P 4140-01-P 4150-04-P