PASTEUR Act Reintroduced in Congress

Tell your representatives to support this life-saving bill – click here!

On April 27, U.S. Congressmen Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), and Mike Levin (D-Calif.) alongside Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) reintroduced the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance Act, also known as the PASTEUR Act. 

The PASTEUR Act works to combat the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which occurs when infectious germs adapt to avoid the antimicrobial medications (such as antibiotics or antifungals) designed to treat them. AMR threatens the treatment of even the most commonplace infections. The PASTEUR Act, if signed into law, would encourage the development of new drugs and protect the medications we already have, to keep them working effectively against infections.  

“Antibiotics make modern medicine possible and the U.S. is at risk of losing these critical drugs,” said Congressman Ferguson in the official press release about the bill. “Antibiotic resistant infections are becoming more commonplace, and Congress must take action so that the foundation of modern medicine doesn’t crumble.”  

As we explored during our recent Sepsis Alliance AMR Conference, the AMR crisis is closely linked to sepsis. Because sepsis often requires effective antimicrobial medications to treat, AMR makes infections more likely to develop into sepsis.  

“Not only is antimicrobial resistance one of the biggest threats to public health broadly, it’s also a significant – and growing – cause of sepsis worldwide,” said Tom Heymann, President and CEO of Sepsis Alliance. “Reintroduction of the PASTEUR Act is a vital step toward curbing these connected public health crises. This bill helps ensure that we can continue to effectively treat infections – and keep them from progressing out of control into life-threatening sepsis.”  

“Right now, we don’t have the tools to address the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance – and infectious disease experts are warning us that it will only get worse,” said Senator Bennet in the press release. “The bipartisan PASTEUR Act is the strongest bill ever written to strengthen antibiotic development and use.” 

The PASTEUR Act is absolutely vital in the fight against AMR and sepsis. You can get involved today by contacting your Congressional representatives and telling them to support this bill. Click here!

You can also learn more about the relationship between AMR and sepsis by visiting our End Superbugs informational webpage, or by watching the recorded sessions from our recent Sepsis Alliance AMR Conference. The sessions are free, available to view at your convenience, and offer free CE Credits for nurses!