White House unveils plan to fight antibiotic-resistant germs

By NEDRA PICKLER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is announcing a five-year plan to fight the threat posed by antibiotic-resistant germs.

It’s an effort to fight the fact that once-treatable germs can kill. Repeated exposure to antibiotics can lead germs to become resistant to the drugs, so that they are no longer effective.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that drug-resistant bacteria cause 23,000 deaths and 2 million illnesses each year in the United States. Antibiotic resistance also threatens animal health, agriculture, and the economy.

The White House goal is to prevent and contain outbreaks of infections at home and abroad. It’s aiming to maintain the ability of current antibiotics to fight illnesses and develop new treatments.

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