James Gathany/CDCResistant bacteria grow on the plate at right, despite antibiotics-containing disksJames Gathany/CDC
The United States government has announced steps to combat the threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Principal among these is the creation of a competition, with a $20 million prize to the winning group, to develop a rapid diagnostic test that can recognize antibiotic-resistant infections. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will also set the specific scope of the campaign. In addition to the prize, President Barack Obama has launched a national strategy, with goals to be achieved by 2020, for epidemiological surveillance, development of new antibiotics and critical use of existing drugs. The president also signed an order creating an advisory council of experts to address the challenge.
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