In an opinion-piece published as part of a USA Today/Media Planet campaign, AMR Action Fund CEO Henry Skinner spotlights the disproportionate impact of AMR on older adults and the need for stronger investments in detection, prevention, and treatment.
The piece discusses how aging-related health factors, including increased exposure to healthcare settings, use of invasive medical devices, and weakened immune responses, can leave older adults particularly vulnerable to drug-resistant infections. It cites research showing that Americans aged 65 and older account for a substantial share of deaths caused by common antibiotic-resistant infections and that these infections add billions of dollars in healthcare costs each year.
Skinner writes:
To close these gaps, we first need better visibility into the problem and that starts by strengthening national-level disease tracking programs and improving access to and uptake of enhanced diagnostics. When dealing with resistant pathogens, it’s not enough to know the type of bacteria or fungus. Clinicians need to know what drugs will work against it. We simultaneously need to rebuild the pipeline of new antibiotics and antifungals.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly warned that there are too few of these drugs in development, which is largely due to declining investment in the field. Unlike most drugs, new antibiotics are used sparingly and typically for short durations, which limits their sales potential and makes it impossible for investors to generate a return.
Congress has an opportunity to stimulate investment and drive innovation by passing the PASTEUR Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation designed to incentivize the development of urgently needed antibiotics while supporting stewardship efforts to ensure antibiotics are used appropriately.
Health challenges are inevitable as we age. A future where common infections become untreatable should not be.
Read the full op-ed here.