BD lays out commitment to fighting antibiotic resistance

BD has attended a recent White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship, during which it outlined the steps it will be taking to help combat drug-resistant organisms.

Addressing key US federal officials and private sector participants, the company pledged to take multiple actions over the next five years to combat the rising global threat posed by antimicrobial resistance.

For example, it will be working to create a new diagnostic test for carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, plus a pandemic sentinel system and antimicrobial susceptibility tests to ensure the appropriate use of all available antibiotics.

It will also be working to utilise electronic surveillance tools to better monitor emerging pathogens, antibiotic resistance trends and public health initiatives, while making new efforts to crack down on healthcare-associated infections.

Vincent Forlenza, chairman, chief executive officer and president of BD, said: "We are committed to being a key contributor to this collaborative effort to stop the rise of antibiotic-resistant organisms."