Reps. Vander Veen, Accavitti, Amos, Stahl, Gosselin, Kahn, Shaffer, Stakoe, Huizenga, Bieda, Brandenburg, Condino, Farrah, Gaffney, Gleason, Gonzales, Green, Hildenbrand, Kooiman, Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Meisner, Meyer, Mortimer, Murphy, Phillips, Proos, Sak, Alma Smith, Taub, Tobocman, Waters and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 130.

A resolution designating September 28th, 2005, as Antibiotic Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, Antibiotics have saved lives for more than 50 years; and

Whereas, Antibiotics are an important weapon against infectious bacterial diseases that harm people of all ages and walks of life; and

Whereas, Antibiotic overuse has hastened the development of antibiotic resistance that is destroying antibiotic effectiveness and these resistant bacteria represent a significant threat to the health of individuals whom they infect; and

Whereas, Infections with resistant bacteria increase the cost and complexity of treating infections which previously were easily treated; and

Whereas, In 2005, another Staphylococcus aureus bacterium that is resistant to Vancomycin – often considered the best and, at times, the last defense against such infections – occurred in Michigan; and

Whereas, The Institute of Medicine, a part of the National Academy of Sciences, has estimated that the annual cost of treating antibiotic-resistant infections in the United States may be as high as $30 billion; and

Whereas, The Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Annals of Internal Medicine have published recommendations for health care professionals regarding best practices for the judicious use of antibiotics.  The Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Antibiotic Resistance Reduction (MARR) Coalition are engaged in an effort to track antibiotic resistance and encourage appropriate antibiotic use; now; therefore be it

Resolved by House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body designate September 28th, 2005, as Antibiotic Awareness Day in the state of Michigan, and be it further

Resolved, That we urge health care professionals in Michigan to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the best use of antibiotics in their practice and formularies.  We urge the people of Michigan to talk with their health care practitioners about wise antibiotic use.  We encourage the Michigan Department of Community Health and the MARR Coalition to increase their efforts to educate Michigan Citizens and health care providers about the appropriate use of antibiotics; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Antibiotic Resistance Reduction Coalition.