SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 84
(By Senators Prezioso, Unger, Edgell, Jenkins, Hunter and Foster)

Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance study the public health crisis created by antibiotic resistance.

Whereas, In 1954 two million pounds of antibiotics were produced in the United States, compared to over fifty million pounds produced in 2000. Despite their extraordinary value, the overuse of these miracle drugs in medicine and agriculture endangers their continued effectiveness; and

Whereas, Each year in the United States, humans consume over 235 million doses of antibiotics, with 20 percent to 50 percent being unnecessary. Over 40 percent of the antibiotics produced in the United States are used in livestock production which also poses a problem because of human consumption of the livestock; and

Whereas, Every time a person takes an antibiotic, sensitive bacteria are killed, but some bacteria may become resistant to the medication and multiply, resulting in the drug becoming ineffective for treating infections caused by that strain of bacteria; and

Whereas, Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms are becoming an increasing problem for West Virginia residents, especially children. Outbreaks of multidrug-resistant strains of staphylococus aureus (MRSA) are being found among football players in West Virginia schools; and

Whereas, Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms present challenges to health care providers and infection control practitioners because treatments for common infections will become increasingly limited and expensive or nonexistent; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to study the public health crisis created by antibiotic resistance; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance establish an Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Education Committee that will undertake a comprehensive review of the various issues related to overuse of antibiotics and recommendations for correcting this problem in West Virginia, including, but not limited to:

(1) Prescription of antibiotics for colds, upper respiratory tract infections and bronchitis even though national clinical practice guidelines do not recommend their use for viral infections;

(2) Contribution to the problem by patients asking for antibiotics when they are not needed, or by not completing the entire course of antibiotics prescribed;

(3) Effect on West Virginia hospital stays caused by antibiotic overuse; and

(4) Recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Resources, hospitals, health care providers, managed care plans and pharmaceutical companies to work together to develop an educational campaign to prevent the spread of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Education Committee shall consist of two members each from the House of Delegates and the Senate, including the chairs of the House and Senate Health and Human Resources committees, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the President of the Senate, respectively; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Education Committee shall have the following advisory members for the purpose of providing technical information: A pharmacist, a physician and an epidemiologist. The advisory members shall be selected from relevant governmental agencies, including, but not limited to, the Public Employees Insurance Agency, the Bureau for Medical Services, the Bureau for Public Health and the Board of Pharmacy. The advisory appointments shall be made by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and the President of the Senate; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Education Committee report to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance on or before the thirty-first day of January, 2007, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.