UCI Health infectious diseases expert Dr. Susan Huang appointed to Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

UCI Health infectious diseases expert Dr. Susan Huang appointed to Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Orange, Calif. - UCI Health proudly announces the appointment of Dr. Susan Huang, MD, MPH, chancellor's professor of medicine and medical director of epidemiology and infection prevention for UCI Health, as a voting member of the Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB).

The PACCARB, established under Executive Order 13676 and included in the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019, advises the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services on strategies to combat antimicrobial resistance. Huang's appointment to this council is a testament to her profound impact on public health and her commitment to improving healthcare outcomes through research and innovation.

"I am deeply honored to contribute to PACCARB's critical mission in combating antibiotic resistance," said Huang. "There is a great amount of proactive and reactive work to be done to address the expansive threats associated with resistant pathogens that threaten our health."

Huang is internationally recognized for her influential research evaluating the spread and containment of multidrug-resistant organisms and strategies to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

Her recent study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in October, demonstrated that universal decolonization in nursing homes significantly reduces serious infections and hospital transfers. The study, conducted across 28 California nursing homes, also highlights the effectiveness of using chlorhexidine for skin cleansing and a nasal antiseptic for reducing the prevalence of several multidrug-resistant organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Another pivotal study led by Huang, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in October, involved a large multi-state trial across 137 hospitals. This research found that nasal mupirocin is highly effective in preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections in ICU patients, outperforming iodophor, an alternative nasal antiseptic. This study underscores the importance of nasal decolonization in addition to chlorhexidine bathing in preventing ICU infections.

Huang's contributions to the field extend to several other landmark studies and trials, including the REDUCE MRSA Trial and the ABATE Infection Trial, which have significantly influenced infection prevention protocols in healthcare settings nationwide.

UCI Health congratulates Huang on this prestigious appointment and eagerly anticipates her continued leadership and contributions to global health improvement.

Learn more about PACCARB by visiting hhs.gov/paccarb
#PACCARB #OneHealth antimicrobialresistance #AMR

About UCI Health

UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, and the only academic health system in Orange County. Patients can access UCI Health at primary and specialty care offices across Orange County and at its main campus, UCI Medical Center in Orange, Calif. The 459-bed, acute care hospital, listed among America's Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years, provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation services. UCI Medical Center is home to Orange County's only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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