PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE | While the world grapples with the spread of COVID-19, health experts fear a much more destructive public health crisis stemming from drug-resistant infections invading communities without the weapons to fight them. The overuse of antibiotics is just one part of the problem. US legislation introduced in December 2020 by US Rep. Mike Doyle takes aim at the source: a lack of incentive for drug companies to invest in the research and development of novel antibiotics, which has led to a dearth of new drugs in the pipeline. The bill, called the PASTEUR Act, aims to encourage drug-makers by restructuring federal contracts to provide an upfront payment, instead of paying companies based on volume of drugs they produce. The proposed change in federal contracts follows a separate bill introduced last year by US Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., that increases reimbursements paid by hospitals for antibiotics. In addition to changing the federal payment model, the PASTEUR Act, introduced with Rep. Drew Ferguson, would provide funds to hospitals to support antibiotic stewardship programs. Hospitals would also be encouraged to report more data on antibiotic use and resistance to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network.