NDSU faculty participate in antibiotic resistance and superbug event

March 12, 2018 – Fargo, North Dakota – Two NDSU faculty members recently participated in The Pew Charitable Trusts event in Washington, D.C., from March 1 to 2, calling attention to superbugs and antibiotic resistance.

Paul Carson, M.D. and professor of practice in NDSU’s Public Health Department, and Gerald Stokka, DVM and professor of Animal Sciences, were part of a group that shared information with policy makers.

According to The Pew Charitable Trusts: 

  • 2 million Americans get antibiotic-resistant infections each year
  • More than 20,000 people die each year as a result of superbugs
  • 47 million antibiotic prescriptions every year are unnecessary

“Antibiotic resistance and antibiotic stewardship play an important role in patient care and in public health,” said Carson.

“Continued funding for research and public health infrastructure in this area is crucial and providing factual information assists in the discussions,” Carson said.

Over the course of two days, representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority briefed the group and engaged in discussions with experts attending the event.

Learn what’s at stake with antibiotic resistance at http://pew.org/2oxEVNL

Find out about Supermoms Against Superbugs, a group that includes patients, families and health care professionals involved in education about antibiotic resistance and stewardship http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/collections/2015/03/supermoms-against-superbugs

NDSU offers a Master of Public Health program accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health. NDSU’s program is 1 of only 3 programs in the U.S. that offers an infectious diseases in public health option. NDSU offers the only program in the U.S. with an American Indian Public Health option. Courses are offered both on-campus and online.

As a student-focused, land grant, research university, we serve our citizens.

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