03-7592. A Public Health Action Plan To Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (Part I: Domestic Issues): Meeting for Public Comment on the Antimicrobial Resistance Interagency Task Force Annual Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) announce an open meeting concerning antimicrobial resistance.

Name: A Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (Part I: Domestic Issues): Meeting for Public Comment on the Antimicrobial Resistance Interagency Task Force Annual Report.

Time and Date: 1:30 p.m.-6 p.m., June 25, 2003.

Place: Hyatt Regency Bethesda, Haverford Ballroom, One Bethesda Metro Center, 7400 Wisconsin Avenue at Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, Maryland, 20814; telephone: [phone]; Fax: [phone].

Status: Open to the public, limited only by the space available.

Purpose: To present the second annual report of progress by Federal agencies in accomplishing activities outlined in A Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (Part I: Domestic Issues), and solicit comments from the public regarding the annual report. The Action Plan serves as a blueprint for activities of Federal agencies to address antimicrobial resistance. The focus of the plan is on domestic issues.

Matters to be Discussed: The agenda will consist of welcome, introductory comments, followed by discussion of four focus areas in sequential plenary sessions lasting about 45 minutes each. The four focus areas are: Surveillance, Prevention and Control, Research, and Product Development. Session leaders will give a 10 to 15 minute overview at the beginning of each session, then open the meeting for general discussion.

Comments and suggestions from the public for Federal agencies related to each of the focus areas will be taken under advisement by the Antimicrobial Resistance Interagency Task Force. The agenda does not include development of consensus positions, guidelines, or discussions or endorsements of specific commercial products.

The Action Plan, Annual Report, and meeting agenda are available at http://www.cdc.gov/​drugresistance. The public meeting is sponsored by the CDC, FDA, and NIH, in collaboration with seven other Federal agencies and departments involved in developing and writing A Public Health Action Plan to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (Part I: Domestic Issues).

Agenda items are subject to change as priorities dictate.

Limited time will be available for oral questions, comments, and suggestions from the public. Depending on the number wishing to comment, a time limit of three minutes may be imposed. In the interest of time, visual aids will not be permitted, although written material may be submitted to the Task Force. Written comments and suggestions from the public are encouraged and can be submitted at the meeting or should be received by the contact person by regular mail or email listed below no later than July 31, 2003.

Persons anticipating attending the meeting are requested to send written notification to the contact person below by June 19, 2003, including name, organization (if applicable), address, phone, fax, and e-mail address.

For Further Information Contact: Ms. Vickie Garrett, Antimicrobial Resistance, Office of the Director, NCID, CDC, mail stop C-12, 1600 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30333; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; or e-mail [e-mail].

The Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, has been delegated the authority to sign Federal Register notices pertaining to announcements of meetings and other committee management activities, for both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.

Dated: March 25, 2003.

Alvin Hall,

Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.