On Thursday (18th September), the White House declared war again, but on antibiotic-resistant bacteria – a far less controversial decision. The initial multi-pronged strategy includes the following executive actions:

1. Formation of a new inter-agency task force to develop a 5-year national action plan to implement the:
2. National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.
3. Launching a USD20 million prize to facilitate the development of a rapid diagnostic test to identify highly resistant bacterial infections at the point of patient care.

A very welcome if rather delayed move. The President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has also publicly released its report to the President Obama on combating antimicrobial resistance, which can be viewed or downloaded here.