BAD BUGS, NO DRUGS As Antibiotic Discovery Stagnates ... A Public Health Crisis Brews Infectious Diseases Society of America July 2004 ABOUT IDSA The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) represents more than 7,500 physicians, scientists, and other health professionals who specialize in infectious diseases in the United States and internationally. Acknowledgements IDSA is grateful to the many individuals who provided expert advice and assistance to the Society in the development of this paper. Most notably, we wish to express our sincere appreciation to the members of IDSA’s Task Force on Antimicrobial Availability, who provided enormous contributions to our work over the past year. We also are grateful to the many government and industry officials and others who met with and advised IDSA leaders on the unique technical and business aspects of antibiotic research, development, evaluation, and review. IDSA Staff Contacts For policymakers and advocacy groups: Robert J. Guidos, JD, (703) 299-0202,
[email protected] For media: Diana Olson, (703) 299-0201,
[email protected] Copyright 2004 Infectious Diseases Society of America 66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 600 Alexandria, VA 22314 www.idsociety.org THE NEXT EPIDEMIC BEGINS... Day 1 A 34-year-old New Hampshire expectant mother visits her doctor’s office complaining of severe stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and chills. She is diagnosed with an intestinal infection, given intravenous fluids and a prescription for a fluoroquinolone—an antibiotic—and is sent home. Day 2 At a Massachusetts hospital’s emergency room, a 2-year-old boy with a severe case of diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and fever is given fluids and administered a cephalosporin, another type of antibiotic, and is admitted to the hospital.