[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 229 (Tuesday, November 28, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70920-70921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30155]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 00N-1620]


2001 National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) 
Scientific Meeting; Public Meeting

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the 
following meeting entitled ``2001 NARMS Scientific Meeting.'' The topic 
to be discussed is the results from NARMS and related antimicrobial 
resistance research.

DATES: The public meeting and poster session will be held on March 15 
and 16, 2001, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. An early evening poster session 
and social hour will be held on March 15, 2001, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 
p.m. Submit written comments by January 29, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel, 
1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD. Submit written comments to the 
Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 
Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy S. Hemming, Center for 
Veterinary Medicine (HFV-250), Food and Drug Administration, 7500 
Standish Pl., Rockville, MD 20855, 301-827-0184, 301-827-7625.
    For information about the poster session contact: Charlotte A. 
Spires, Center for Veterinary Medicine (HFV-250), Food and Drug 
Administration, 7500 Standish Pl., Rockville, MD 20855, 301-827-6853, 
e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e88b9b98819a8d9ba88b9e85c68e8c89c68f879e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="365545465f4453457655405b1850525718515940">[email protected]</span></a>.
    Registration: Registration is required. There is no registration 
fee for the meeting. Limited space is available, and early registration 
is encouraged. Logistics for the meeting and the registration form are 
available on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/cvm/fda/mappgs/registration.html. Please send the registration form to Kathy Hemming 
(address above). Additional information about the meeting and the 
agenda will be available on the Internet (Internet site above) before 
the meeting. If you need special accommodations due to a disability, 
please contact the DoubleTree Hotel at least 7 days in advance, 800-
222-8733.
    Poster abstracts: Abstract preparation and submission information 
are available on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/cvm/fda/mappgs/registration.html. Instructions and submission forms may be downloaded 
in MSWord or WordPerfect. Please send submission of poster abstract to 
Charlotte Spires (address above) by January 15, 2001.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) was 
established in 1996 as a collaborative effort among FDA, U.S. 
Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention (CDC). The NARMS was established in response to 
recommendations of several groups, including a 1995 task force of the 
American Society of Microbiology, to establish a national system in the 
United States to monitor levels of antimicrobial resistance in both 
animals and humans. The NARMS program prospectively monitors changes in 
susceptibilities of human and animal enteric bacteria to 17 
antimicrobial drugs. Bacterial isolates are collected from human and 
animal clinical specimens, from healthy farm animals, and raw product 
from food animals. The objectives of the system include: (1) To provide 
descriptive data on the extent and temporal trends of antimicrobial 
susceptibility in Salmonella and other enteric organisms from human and 
animal populations, (2) to facilitate the identification of resistance 
in humans and animals as it arises, and (3) to provide timely 
information to veterinarians and physicians. The ultimate goal of these 
activities is to prolong the lifespan of approved drugs by promoting 
prudent and judicious use

[[Page 70921]]

of antimicrobical drugs and to identify areas for more detailed 
investigation.
    The NARMS program is designed as two nearly identical parts: an 
animal arm and a human arm. Animal-origin enteric isolate 
susceptibility testing is conducted at the USDA, Agricultural Research 
Service's (ARS) Russell Research Center in Athens, Georgia. Sources of 
nationwide animal-origin isolates are: (1) Raw product collected from 
federally inspected slaughter and processing plants, (2) clinical 
specimens from the National Veterinary Sevices Laboratory and 
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory Sentinel Sites, (3) healthy farm-
animal isolates from USDA National Animal Health Monitoring System 
(NAHMS) studies, and (4) on-farm studies conducted by ARS. Human-origin 
isolates are submitted by 17 State and local Departments of Health for 
testing that is conducted at the National Center for Infectious 
Disease, CDC, in Atlanta, Georgia. The participating human sites 
currently include: California (CA); Colorado; Connecticut; Florida; 
Georgia; Kansas; Los Angeles, CA; Maryland; Minnesota; Massachusetts; 
New Jersey; New York City; New York State; Oregon; Tennessee; 
Washington; and West Virginia. Animal and human isolates currently 
monitored in NARMS are non-typhoid Salmonella, Campylobacter, 
Escherichia coli, and Enterococci. Human isolates also include 
Salmonella typhi and Shigella. Listeria andVibrio will be added to the 
list of human isolates in 2001.
    The CDC/NCID and USDA/ARS provide the NARMS results annually in 
comprehensive summary reports. These reports are available on the CDC 
and FDA/CVM web sites. Additionally periodic public meetings are held 
to present NARMS results and provide a forum for presentation of other 
related antimicrobial resistance research.

II. Submission of Comments

    Interested persons may submit to the Dockets Management Branch 
(address above) written comments regarding this meeting by January 29, 
2001. Two copies of any comments are to be submitted, except that 
individuals may submit one copy, or by fax to 301-827-6870. Comments 
are to be identified with the docket number found in the brackets in 
the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the 
Dockets Management Branch between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday.

    Dated: November 17, 2000.
Margaret M. Dotzel,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 00-30155 Filed 11-27-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-F


</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>