Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance Act

Representative Jim Matheson (D-UT) introduced the Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance (STAAR) Act (H.R. 2400) on May 13, 2009. IDSA has enthusiastically endorsed this important legislation and the comprehensive and strategic approaches it employs to tackle the problem of antimicrobial resistance. The STAAR Act provides important solutions to contain the spread of antimicr Bad Bugs logo obial-resistant "bad bugs" through better overall coordination and funding of federal activities. The STAAR Act will strengthen federal antimicrobial resistance surveillance, prevention and control, and research efforts as well as enhance the collection of critical information on the use of antibiotics in humans and animals.

In addition to IDSA, the STAAR Act has been endorsed by Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), American Dental Association (ADA), American Medical Association (AMA), American Pharmacists Association (APhA), American Public Health Association (APHA), American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP), Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT), International Society of Microbial Resistance (ISMR), Michigan Antibiotic Resistance Reduction Coalition (MARR), National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), National Foundation for Infections Diseases (NFID), National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS), Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA), Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP), Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and Premier, a healthcare alliance serving 2,100 nonprofit hospitals and 58,000 healthcare sites.

IDSA applauds the STAAR Act's sponsors for their leadership in addressing this critical issue that is affecting patients across the country.

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Bill Language

H.R. 2400, House-version of the STAAR Act (PDF, 202K)

Bill summaries and explanations

STAAR Act Background Document (PDF, 20K)
STAAR Act Brief Summary (PDF, 23K)
STAAR Act Highlights (PDF, 24K)
STAAR Act Questions & Answers (PDF, 23K)
STAAR Act Rational for Establishing the Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance and Research Network (PDF, 19K)
Rep. Matheson's Introduction Statement at Introduction (PDF, 20K)
STAAR Act: Options for Improving Access to Antimicrobial Consumption Data in the United States (PDF, 28K)

IDSA Statements

25 Organizations Endorse STAAR Act upon Introduction in 111th Congress 05/18/2009 Medical, healthcare, education, pharmacy and public health organizations urge members of Congress to cosponsor IDSA-supported STAAR Act legislation.
IDSA Testimony on Antimicrobial Resistance at FDA Part 15 Hearing 04/28/2008 IDSA testifies at FDA hearing on antimicrobial resistance and makes twelve recommendations on appropriate FDA actions to help lead federal efforts to combat this growing problem.
The Epidemic of Antimicrobial Resistant Infections: A Call to Action for the Medical Community from the Infectious Diseases Society of America January 15, 2008 01/15/2008 Published in Clinical Infectious Diseases [CID 2008:46 (15 January)].
IDSA letter to Drs. Anthony Fauci, NIAID and Julie Gerberding, CDC, Requesting a Strengthened Federal Response to Antimicrobial Resistance 6/19/07

Patient Stories

Many families have suffered the debilitating effects of antimicrobial-resistant infections. These compelling and heart-wrenching stories engender a strong sense of urgency to enact the Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance (STAAR) Act soon.

	Rebecca's Story A healthy 17-year old high school honor student and swimmer from Northern New Jersey who died of an MRSA infection Posted: September 2007
	Carlos Don's Story A healthy 12-year old athlete from Southern California who died of pneumonia caused by an MRSA infection Posted: Jun Posted: June 2007
	Bryce’s Story: A Family Hopes A healthy 14-month old from Santee, California who contracted MRSA and spent many harrowing weeks in the intensive care unit as doctors struggled to save his life Posted: May 2007
	Ricky Lannetti's Story A healthy 21-year old football player at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania who contracted MRSA and did not survive the infection Posted: April 2007
	Dee Dee Wallace's Story A Wisconson woman nearly loses her leg, and her life, to MRSA Posted: September 2007
	Brandon Noble's Story Washington Redskins defensive tackle who has had recurring serious MRSA infections in his knee Posted: March 2006
	My Son, My Sun—A Mother’s Story of Tragedy in the Face of MRSA Simon, a healthy baby from Chicago, Illinois who contracted MRSA and did not survive his infection Posted: March 2006

Background

Facts about Antibiotic Resistance

Bad Bugs, No Drugs/Strategies to Address Antimicrobial Resistance Act: Our Advocacy Campaign (PPT) 10/24/08
Presentation by Robert J. Guidos, JD, IDSA Director Public Policy & Government Relations before the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists

Many ‘Superbugs’ Exist 11/27/2007
Excellent Fox News segment describing the epidemic

CDC estimates 94,000 invasive drug-resistant staph infections occurred in the U.S. in 2005 10/16/2007

"Invasive Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections in the United States," Journal of the American Medical Association, (full text requires subscription) 10/17/2007
This CDC-supported study demonstrates that invasive MRSA infections killed more than 19,000 Americans in 2005--more than emphysema, HIV/AIDS or Parkinson's disease, and MRSA is only one of several important antibiotic-resistant infections of which we must be concerned.

"Antimicrobial Resistance: It's Not Just for Hospitals," Editorial by Elizabeth A. Bancroft, MD, SM, 10/17/2007
Read the abstract on the Journal of the American Medical Association website. (full text requires subscription)

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairs Seek CDC Leaders Positions/Documents on Antibiotic Use in Food Animals (PDF) 10/1/2007

The Struggle against Superbugs: Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in the Clinic and the Community
An eBriefing of the New York Academy of Sciences

IDSA's Efforts to Curb Antimicrobial Resistance
Presented by Martin J. Blaser, MD, New York University School of Medicine 6/21/2007

IDSA Staff Contacts

Media and the Public:
John Heys (703) 299-0412
Diana Olson (703) 299-0201
Federal Policymakers:
Robert J. Guidos, JD (703) 299-0202
Michael Ochs (703)740-4790