bioMérieux, Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and USF Health hosted the inaugural U.S. AMR Summit Nov. 12-13 to address the escalating global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR will surpass cancer as the leading cause of death by 2050.* The misuse of antimicrobials is rapidly fueling this urgent health crisis. Interorganizational collaboration and partnership for antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) is critical to public health.

The AMR Summit brought together medical experts, healthcare leaders, policymakers, patient advocates, and other key stakeholders to discuss innovative strategies, partnerships, and technologies to combat AMR.

In 2022, TGH was named a Global Center of Excellence by bioMérieux. The recognition acknowledges achievements in managing AMR. The AMR Summit was a further demonstration of TGH’s commitment to advancing initiatives for the betterment of public health.

“AMR is a complex issue requiring a multi-faceted and multi-stakeholder approach with diagnostics playing a pivotal role in combatting this crisis effectively and sustainably,” said Colin Hill, bioMérieux General Manager and Head of Clinical Operations, North America. “This collaborative forum focused on furthering comprehensive actionable solutions to advance antimicrobial stewardship. We know stewardship works. It can be implemented in any healthcare setting where antimicrobials are prescribed, but it takes each of us to slow AMR. Our work at this summit is helping drive clinical choices and therapy decisions that enable outcomes and fight against the rapid evolution of resistance.”

Various industry experts and panelists discussed the latest advancements in diagnostic technologies and solutions to combat this pressing global health threat, as well as groundbreaking insights and innovative approaches to navigating AMR. Karen Gonzalez Pittman, Florida House of Representatives, District 65, was also in attendance to participate in a panel that explored the intersection of policy, payers, and clinical practice.

“Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the biggest health threats of our time, yet it often goes unspoken," said Dr. Suzane Silbert, Director of the Esoteric Testing, Research, and Microbiology Laboratories at Tampa General Hospital and Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease at USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. "By hosting the AMR Summit here in Tampa, we're building a collaborative foundation to inspire actionable, new approaches that will drive meaningful changes. Only through a strong, collective effort can we hope to overcome this battle.”

The AMR Summit displayed bioMérieux’s longstanding commitment to addressing AMR through pioneering diagnostic solutions and fostering dialogue on responsible stewardship. Through events like these, stakeholders can catalyze change, mobilize efforts to protect the effectiveness of existing antibiotics and preserve the efficacy of antibiotics for future generations.