Kevin Outterson Honored as Leader in Containing Antibiotic Resistance
Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics Honors cites Outterson’s actions that foster public policies to preserve the power of antibiotics.
The Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA) named Kevin Outterson, professor at the Boston University School of Law and Boston University School of Public Health, as the recipient of its 2015 leadership award.
Professor Outterson, the N. Pike Scholar in Health and Disability Law and co-director of BU Law’s health law program, is the author of groundbreaking models to address the economic challenge of developing new antibiotics. Together with his scholarship and testimony before the United States Congress, he elevates the issues of antimicrobial resistance to a new level, catalyzing access to effective treatment of bacterial infections for all.
“We recognize Professor Outterson as a thought leader in the worldwide effort to contain antibiotic resistance,” said APUA President Stuart B. Levy. “His intellectual commitment to the economic realities of developing new drugs that affect the global aspects and consequences of antibacterial resistance alter our thinking about answers to these complex problems.”
Antibiotic resistance occurs when an antibiotic has lost its ability to effectively control or kill bacterial growth; in other words, the bacteria are “resistant” and continue to multiply in the presence of therapeutic levels of an antibiotic. Antibiotic resistance has been called one of the world’s most pressing public health problems. Every time a person takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed, but resistant ones may be left to grow and multiply. Repeated and improper uses of antibiotics are the primary causes of the increase in drug-resistant bacteria. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics threatens the usefulness of these important drugs. Decreasing inappropriate antibiotic use is a key strategy to control antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance in children is of particular concern because they have the highest rates of antibiotic use and often have fewer antibiotic choices since some antibiotics cannot be safely given to children. Antibiotic resistance can cause significant suffering for people who have common infections that once were easily treatable with antibiotics. When antibiotics do not work, infections often last longer, cause more severe illness, require more doctor visits or extended hospital stays, and involve more expensive and toxic medications. Some resistant infections can even cause death.
About APUA
Boston-based APUA, the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics, founded in 1981, is a global non-governmental organization dedicated to preserving the power of existing antibiotics, prevention and increasing access to needed new agents and rapid diagnostics. With a chapter network spanning the developing world, APUA is engaged in research, education, and advocacy to improve public policy and responsible antibiotic treatment practices worldwide.