Blumenthal Visits Connecticut Children’s Medical Center to Discuss Threat of Drug Resistant Infections

(Hartford, CT) –Senator Richard Blumenthal met with experts at the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) today to discuss the threat of drug-resistant infections in pediatrics and what measures can be taken to develop new and better antibiotics. Drug-resistant bacteria, sometimes referred to as “super bugs,” are becoming more widespread, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths across The United States each year.

“Antibiotic resistant bacteria are becoming a greater public health risk to Americans every day, particularly to young children, one of our most vulnerable populations. It is frightening that we are facing a return to a pre-antibiotic world where there were no scientific and medical fixes to these threatening infections,” said Blumenthal. “Physicians and pharmacists on the front lines of combatting this issue understand that modern medicine depends on antibiotics to treat infectious diseases. Our children depend on it. After meeting with several of Connecticut’s own expert physicians and pharmacists, I am even more convinced that we must aggressively pursue a legislative solution that encourages research and development to create innovative antibiotics and better stewardship practices of existing medications. ”

Blumenthal conducted a roundtable discussion with infectious disease physicians and pharmacists from the CCMC and the Pew Charitable Trust. The conversation focused on the risks these infectious diseases pose to the public health and the pressing need for drug development. Drug-resistant infections are most common within the military and children, and cause more deaths annually than AIDS, traffic deaths, or the flu.  As it stands, there are few, if any, antibiotic solutions available to combat them.  

Resistance to antibiotics is often fueled by injudicious use of existing drugs and is made worse by a failure to develop new antibiotics to combat bacterial evolution. Blumenthal is committed to pursuing legislative solutions in the United State Senate in order to strongly encourage research to promote the development of new antibiotics and to address the threat it poses to Americans.

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