On Oct. 9, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) released "The National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, 2020-2025," which presents coordinated, strategic actions the U.S. government will take in the next five years to "improve the health and well-being of all Americans by changing the course of antibiotic resistance."

HHS said the 2020-25 plan is based on the 2014 "National Strategy for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria" and builds on the first national action plan released in 2015 by expanding evidence-based activities that have already been shown to reduce antibiotic resistance, such as optimizing the use of antibiotics in human and animal health settings.

HHS said the updated plan "continues to prioritize infection prevention and control to slow the spread of resistant infections and reduce the need for antibiotic use. To ensure that patients receive the right antibiotic care, the plan supports innovative approaches to developing and deploying diagnostic tests and treatment strategies. A One Health approach, which recognizes the relationships between the health of humans, animals, plants and the environment, is integrated throughout the plan, with an expanded effort to understand antibiotic resistance in the environment. The plan also focuses on collecting and using data to better understand where resistance is occurring, support the development of new diagnostics and treatment options and advance international coordination."

HHS said the government will report annually on progress toward the objectives set in the plan.