"White House Meeting Elicits Pledges to Reduce Antibiotic Use"

"WASHINGTON — The Obama administration convened representatives of hospitals, food producers, professional medical societies and restaurant chains on Tuesday and extracted pledges to reduce the use of lifesaving antibiotics, whose effectiveness is waning because of overuse.

The meeting at the White House highlighted the problem of antibiotic resistance, a public health crisis that every year kills at least 23,000 of the more than two million Americans who fall ill from infections that are impervious to the drugs.

The event was part of a series of efforts that began in the fall when President Obama’s science advisers announced a national strategy to curb the overuse of antibiotics. It was the first time a presidential administration had taken on the problem, but consumer advocates said the strategy so far has fallen short of getting tough on antibiotic use in agriculture."

Sabrina Tavernise reports for the New York Times June 2, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"White House Seeks To Fight Antibiotic Overuse" (Reuters)

"Fact Sheet: Over 150 Animal And Health Stakeholders Join White House Effort To Combat Antibiotic Resistance" (White House)