The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Defense announced last week the appointment of nationally recognized experts to the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

Antibiotics reduce illness and death from infectious diseases. However, an increasing number of bacterial infections no longer respond to our most powerful antibiotics, putting patients at risk for severe infections and even death. Detecting, preventing and controlling antibiotic resistance requires a strategic, coordinated and sustained effort.

HHS said the work of the Advisory Council complements other federal efforts, including the National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-resistant Bacteria. Together, these efforts provide a roadmap to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics, strengthen surveillance, prevent the transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, further new research and improve international coordination.

Established by Executive Order 13676, signed by President Obama on Sept. 18, 2014, the Advisory Council, comprising 15 experts and five organizations, will provide advice, information and recommendations to the HHS Secretary on programs and policies related to combating antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The Advisory’s Council’s inaugural meeting, open to the public, will be held Sept. 29, in the Great Hall of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C.

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The following individuals have been appointed as voting members to the Advisory Council:

* Martin J. Blaser, M.D. (chair) — the Muriel & George Singer professor of medicine, professor of microbiology and director of the Human Microbiome Program, NYU School of Medicine, New York City.

* Lonnie J. King, D.V.M., M.S., M.P.A., A.C.V.P.M. (vice chair) — dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, and executive dean, Health Science Colleges, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

* Michael Apley, D.V.M., Ph.D., D.A.C.V.C.P. — professor, department of clinical sciences, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Manhattan, Kan.

* Helen Boucher, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.I.D.S.A. — director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program and associate professor of medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass.

* Angela Caliendo, M.D., Ph.D., F.I.D.S.A. — professor and executive vice chair of medicine and director of the division of general internal medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, R.I.

* Alicia R. Cole — founder, Alliance for Safety Awareness for Patients (ASAP), Sherman Oaks, Cal.

* Sara Cosgrove, M.D., M.S. — director, Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and associate professor of medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Md.

* Peter Robert Davies, B.V.Sc., Ph.D. — professor of swine health and production, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.

* Kent E. Kester, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.I.D.S.A., F.A.S.T.M.H. — vice president and head, translational sciences and biomarkers, Sanofi Pasteur, Swiftwater, Pa.

* Ramanan Laxminarayan, Ph.D., M.P.H. — director and senior fellow, Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, Washington, D.C.

* Aileen M. Marty, M.D., F.A.C.P. — professor, infectious diseases, department of medicine, family medicine and community health, and director, Health Travel Medicine Program & Vaccine Clinic, Florida International University, Miami, Fla.

* John H. Rex, M.D. — senior vice president and head of infection, global medicines development, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, Waltham, Mass.

* Thomas R. Shryock, Ph.D. — chief scientific officer and managing member, Antimicrobial Consultants LLC, Greenfield, Ind.

* Randall Singer, D.V.M., M.P.V.M., Ph.D. — professor of epidemiology, department of veterinary and biomedical sciences, St. Paul, Minn.

* Robert A. Weinstein, M.D. — former chair, department of medicine, Cook County Health & Hospitals System, chief academic officer, The C. Anderson Hedberg, M.D. Professor of Internal Medicine, Rush Medical College, Chicago.

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The following designated organizations have nominated non-voting liaison members to represent them on the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria:

* National Pork Producers Council, Elizabeth Allen Wagstrom;

* National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care, Sherrie Dornberger;

* Animal Health Institute, Richard Carnevale;

* Association of State & Territorial Health Officials, Jewel Mullen, and

* The Pew Charitable Trusts, Elizabeth Jungman.