Good Day BIO: Drug-resistant infections on the rise in healthcare settings

A new CDC report highlights an increase in healthcare-associated infections, including two deadly drug-resistant infections that have the industry worried. Plus, food was the focus of COP27 on Saturday, where experts highlighted the need for investment in innovation. (559 words, 2 minutes, 47 seconds)

Deadly drug-resistant infections on the rise in healthcare settings

A new report highlights an increase in healthcare-associated infections, including serious drug-resistant threats—more evidence of the need for policy to encourage the development of new antimicrobials.

The report: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the 2021 National and State Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs) Progress Report, which shows “significant increases” in certain HAIs between 2020 and 2021.

Antimicrobial-resistant infections on the rise: The report found a 14% increase in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus—the dreaded MRSA.

This tracks: Hospital-acquired antimicrobial-resistant infections and deaths increased 15% during the COVID-19 pandemic, said a CDC report released earlier this year.

The big picture: Antimicrobial resistance, or AMR, is already a leading cause of death, directly responsible for 1.2 million deaths worldwide in 2019, and threatens to kill more people annually than cancer by 2050.

Why it matters: The report “helps continue to illustrate why the PASTEUR Act is urgent,” Emily Wheeler, BIO’s Director of Infectious Disease Policy, told us. “Patients are getting sicker in our hospitals, and we just don’t have the tools we need to help them.”

Read more about the PASTEUR Act and the threat of AMR.

More Health Care News: 

Nature: CRISPR cancer trial success paves the way for personalized treatments
“A small clinical trial has shown that researchers can use CRISPR gene editing to alter immune cells so that they will recognize mutated proteins specific to a person’s tumors. Those cells can then be safely set loose in the body to find and destroy their target.” 

Stars and Stripes (Opinion): Veterans and transitioning service members have the skills to thrive in biotech positions
“As a mission-driven, highly structured industry seeking to grow a disciplined, adaptable workforce, it is only natural that we should aggressively recruit veterans,” writes Joseph Panetta, President and CEO of Biocom California.

‘Adapt or starve’

That was the message of the Adaption and Agriculture Day at COP27 Saturday, which focused on the need for food systems innovation (including biotech) to feed 8 billion people.

Why it matters: Food systems account for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions globally, while agriculture accounts for about 10%. Meanwhile, climate change already affects 21% of agricultural production, equivalent to losing seven years of productivity growth.

What they’re saying: “Trillions of dollars were made available to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences. The same is needed for climate change. The same is needed for sustainable agricultural support. It’s crucial to the well-being and the food security of us all,” said Sabrina Dhowre Elba, Goodwill Ambassador for the U.N. International Fund for Agricultural Development.

What we’re doing about it: 275 governments, businesses, and other organizations pledged $8 billion for the Agricultural Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate, which the U.S. and UAE launched at COP26 last year. BIO joined the initiative which has more than 50 non-governmental Knowledge Partners.

The first step: addressing food waste, which is responsible for 8% of emissions, said one U.N. expert. Biotech offers key solutions, from turning waste into fuel to using gene editing to make crops that last longer.

What’s next: The U.S. will host the AIM for Climate Summit in Washington, D.C., in May 2023, so stay tuned.

President Biden’s Monday: Meeting with President Xi in Bali.

What’s Happening on Capitol Hill: Democrats officially held the Senate, which STAT News explains improves the “outlook for the White House’s health and science priorities.”