Download Infectious Diseases

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in a series
Investment in research
saves lives and money
facts about:
Infectious Diseases
Today:
:: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), more than two million Americans develop antibiotic^
resistant infections each year, resulting in 23,000 deaths.
:: As of March 2015, over 24,700 individuals have been infected
“If you think research is expensive, try disease.”
- Mary Lasker 1901-1994
The Cost:
:: Infectious diseases were associated with an economic burden of over
$120 billion in the U.S. in 2014.
*
:: Antibiotic resistant infections cost Americans $20 billion in direct
*
medical costs and $35 billion in lost productivity in 2014.
with the Ebola virus globally, and nearly half of this population
‡
:: In 2014, researchers estimated that seasonal flu cost Americans $10.4
has died.
billion in direct medical costs and $76.7 million in indirect costs.
:: 10,000 Americans were diagnosed with Tuberculosis (TB) in
Vaccinations for the flu can save $80 per person vaccinated per year by
*
2013, and an estimated 4% of the population was infected
preventing costly hospitalizations.
*
with asymptomatic TB.
:: Even though malaria is both preventable and treatable, it still
caused approximately 627,000 deaths globally in 2012.
‡
SAVING LIVES
SAVING MONEY
HOW RESEARCH SAVES LIVES:
^ CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. <WWW.CDC.GOV>
‡
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. <WWW.WHO.INT >
* TRUST FOR AMERICA’S HEALTH. <WWW.HEALTHYAMERICANS.ORG>
survivor:
NAME:
David Ricci
AGE:
22
CONDITION: Antibiotic Resistant Infection
:: Severe dehydration, which can become fatal within hours, is a
common symptom of many viral infections. American researchers,
working for the US Public Health Service, aided in the development
of oral rehydration therapy (ORT). International access to ORT,
which on average costs less than $0.50, has saved more than 50
*+
million lives as of 2015.
:: During the 20 century, polio tore through communities,
th
disproportionately affecting children and leaving many irreversibly
paralyzed. More than 50,000 deaths due to polio were reported in
1952 alone. Between 1955 and 2015, an estimated 1.1 million lives
+
have been saved through global vaccination.
:: Smallpox is the only infectious disease to ever be eradicated
globally. Due to the success of the vaccine and prevention
programs, the eradication of smallpox has saved an estimated 540
+
million lives worldwide as of 2014.
HOW RESEARCH SAVES MONEY:
:: If every American received recommended vaccinations, 14 million
cases of preventable disease would be avoided and 33,000 lives
would be saved per year. It would also save Americans $43.3
‡
billion in direct and indirect costs annually.
:: A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention and Johns Hopkins University found that a $4.5 billion
investment in HIV prevention over a 10-year period could save the
^
U.S. $104 billion in direct medical costs.
:: Researchers estimate that if the U.S. could reduce the number of
hospital-acquired infections by 20%, healthcare providers would
**
save nearly $7 billion per year.
* BISHAI ET AL. COST EFFECTIVENESS AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION. 2015: 13(3).
+ SCIENCE HEROES. <WWW.SCIENCEHEROES.COM> 2015.
‡ HEALTHYPEOPLE.GOV. <WWW.HEALTHPEOPLE.GOV/2020>
^ AVERT. <WWW.AVERT.ORG>
** OFFICE OF DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION. <WWW.HEALTH.GOV>
While volunteering at an AIDS orphanage in Calcutta, India, 19-year-old David
Ricci was walking one morning when he was hit and dragged by a train,
resulting in the brutal amputation of his right leg above the knee. After three
weeks in a rural hospital, David learned that his wounds were infected with
multiple drug-resistant strains of bacteria.
David then began a long and agonizing series of procedures to remove
infected tissue and treatments with antibiotics of escalating strength. The
infection would ultimately return two more times. Now, three years since the
last antibiotic-resistant infection, David continues to fight every day. Though
the infection appears to have been completely removed, there's still a 30%
chance bacteria are lying dormant, and might once again put his life in
jeopardy.
David has not let the infection deter his future, and is currently pursuing an
undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Washington and Cascadia
College. He hopes to go to medical school and become an Infectious Disease
Specialist. In 2014, he was invited by the Pew Research Foundation to speak at
the Supermoms Against Super Bugs event at Congress and the White House.
David believes more programs that investigate and monitor the overuse of
antibiotics in the medical and food industries are essential if we are to combat
drug resistant bacteria. Proper education is critical to the longevity of
antibiotics, and their survival in the modern medical era. He says that more
funding into the research and development of new antibiotics could save
more lives.
Before the discovery of antibiotics, infections were treated by removing the
affected tissue in surgery. If bacteria continue to develop resistance to our
current arsenal of antibiotics, we will be looking at what the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention has named an “Apocalyptic Post-Antibiotic
Era.” Without the effectiveness of antibiotics, common and previously
treatable illnesses will have detrimental tolls on health. David urges swift
action from world governments to prevent a global nightmare.
}
facts about:
Infectious Diseases
Research at Work:
:: Despite being preventable, tuberculosis (TB) claims three lives
every minute worldwide. It is estimated that one TB infected
individual will infect up to 15 people per year. A rapid, low-cost
TM
diagnostic test for TB was released in 2014. TB REaD , allows for
accurate results within 10 minutes, and makes it possible for a
patient to begin treatment that same day. Rapid diagnosis and
*
treatment is imperative to reduce the death toll of TB.
:: Annually, the seasonal flu causes up to 500,000 deaths
internationally. The current vaccine requires a new formula to be
created each year. Researchers are in the process of developing a
universal flu vaccine, which would eliminate the yearly process of
‡
developing and administering a seasonal vaccine.
:: In 2015, the FDA approval for the use of a transportable
diagnostic test for the Ebola virus has given researchers hope that
they are one step closer to controlling the deadly West African
outbreak. Current tests are nearly impossible to conduct in rural
settings. The new tests would allow those in the field to get
results within 30 minutes. This new advancement would make it
possible to contain outbreak clusters quickly and efficiently.+
*TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER. <WWW.SCIENCEDAILY.COM/RESLEASES> 2014.
‡
FEDERAL DRUG ADMINISTRATION <WWW.FDA.GOV>
+ WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. <WWW.WHO.INT>
National Poll:
Improving Global
Health with Research
Very important
Somewhat important
Not too important
A majority of Americans
agree that it is important
for the U.S. to work to
improve health globally
through research and
development.
SOURCE: A RESEARCH!AMERICA POLL
OF U.S. ADULTS CONDUCTED IN
PARTNERSHIP WITH JZ ANALYTICS IN
DECEMBER 2012.
Not at all important
Not sure
10%
40%
4%
10%
38%
The Bottom Line:
Recent Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERS-CoV) and
Ebola outbreaks demonstrate the rapid spread of infectious diseases
around the world with no regard for state and national boundaries.
Increased investments in research are needed to improve current
treatments, develop new drugs, and identify better ways to diagnose and
prevent infectious diseases in our increasingly global community.
Research!America
1101 King Street, Suite 520
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703.739.2577
www.researchamerica.org
[email protected]
The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation is a founding
partner in this series of fact sheets. www.laskerfoundation.org
15.2.315