PACCARB Report Recommends IPC and Workforce Expansion

The Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) released a report with recommendations on “Preparing for the Next Pandemic in the Era of Antimicrobial Resistance.” The report divides its 14 recommendations into four categories: Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship; Workforce Expansion; Data Sharing and Security; and Product Innovation. It also included three distinct goals that should be applied to all categories: Equity, Trust, and Communication. The PACCARB report suggests that recommendations start being applied now in order to prepare for and respond to the next public health emergency.

In the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Antimicrobial Stewardship (AS) area, the report notes that while IPC and AS core capabilities play critical roles in preventing the emergency and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), they are largely absent from the U.S. government’s key pandemic preparedness policies. It recommends that policies should be updated to reflect the importance of these key public health activities in preventing the spread of AMR infections.

In the Workforce Expansion area, the report notes many challenges during the COVID-19 response were due to and exacerbated by healthcare workforce shortages. Specific gaps include a need for greater recruitment, training, and support of the IPC workforce.

Read the PACCARB report.