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Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65 percent) say they are concerned that antibiotic resistance will make more infections difficult or impossible to treat and even deadly, according to a national public opinion surveyed by Research in America in collaboration with the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). Majority of Democracy, 81 percent of Democrats, 76 percent of Republicans and 70 percent of Independents.
"Americans understand that antibiotic-resistant 'superbugs' are a public health threat, and they support the public and private sector research continuum to work to address this intensifying health threat," said Mary Woolley, Research's America president and CEO, said. "Americans are calling for 'all hands on deck' to confront AMR – the government, private sector, health professionals, hospitals and individuals."
Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of those surveyed agree that the federal government should provide incentives to encourage private sector investment in the development of new antibiotics, reflecting consensus among 80 percent of Republicans, 76 percent of Democrats and 63 percent of Independents. Some 83 percent of those surveyed believe pharmaceutical companies should develop more antibiotics. The survey found that 92 percent agree that doctors and other healthcare professionals should only prescribe antibiotics when needed.
"Antibiotic resistance is threatening our ability to safely provide medical care to patients, including organ and bone marrow transplants, joint replacement and other complex surgeries, cancer chemotherapy, and care of preterm infants," IDSA president Cynthia Sears, MD, FIDSA , said. "A multipronged approach – including stewardship to protect the utility of antibiotics, incentives to spur development of new antibiotics, and investment in research and public health initiatives – will be necessary to turn the tide against antibiotic resistance. health care providers should only prescribe antibiotics when necessary, we should be aware of the need for antibiotics.
Antibiotic use is needed. Antibiotics, such as colds and flu, are more effective than viral infections. Further, about one-third (29 percent) would be dissatisfied if their doctor did not prescribe an antibiotic for their child's viral infection. Also, only 57 percent of those surveyed are aware of the fact that antibiotic resistance can be a factor in the development of antibiotic resistance.
Other findings include:
Only 61 percent of those surveyed say they are aware that they are resistant to antibiotics.
– More than three quarters (76 percent) of those surveyed say they are aware that antibiotic-resistant infections make medical procedures like surgery, organ transplants and cancer treatment much more dangerous.
Only 21 percent of those surveyed say that no action is needed from the federal government on antibiotic research and development at this time.
The nationwide survey of 1,004 U.S. adults was conducted by Zogby Analytics in October 2018. The margin of error is +/- 3.1 percentage points. To view the survey, visit http://www.researchamerica.org/amrsurvey
Source: Research! America
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