bioMérieux is a proud supporter of Get Smart about Antibiotics Week

Durham, NC- November 17, 2015 – bioMérieux, Inc, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, joins The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and its partners to increase awareness about the threat of antibiotic resistance and how to reduce it during World Antibiotic Awareness Week, November 16-22, 2015. The overuse and misuse of powerful broad spectrum antibiotics is the primary contributor to antibiotic resistance, which is why deadly infections caused by “superbugs” such as C. difficile, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are occurring more frequently.

Antibiotic resistance (AMR) occurs when a pathogen develops or acquires a mechanism(s) that prevents the antibiotics from effectively killing or controlling pathogen growth. When pathogens do not respond to the drugs designed to kill them, then standard antibiotic treatments become ineffective, making fatal infections that were once easily treated potentially fatal.

Implementing antibiotic stewardship programs across healthcare facilities is paramount to reduce the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which in turn helps curb antibiotic resistance. As part of bioMérieux’s awareness campaign, an educational webinar will take place on November 17, 2015. bioMérieux’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Miller, will conduct a webinar that explains the critical tools and processes needed to create an effective and successful Antimicrobial Stewardship Program.

“As a major global player in the diagnosis of infectious diseases, including more than 50 years of commitment to serving global public health and a world leadership in microbiology, bioMérieux is a strong advocate for the prudent use of antibiotics. The Company develops pioneering diagnostic solutions and educational tools which play an instrumental role in the fight against antibiotic resistance and we applaud the efforts of the CDC and its partners to create awareness on this issue,” said Stefan Willemsen, CEO of bioMérieux, Inc.

Understanding your role in detecting, reducing and preventing the development of antibiotic resistance is key to combating this growing threat. To further educate the public and medical professionals about ways to reduce antibiotic resistance, bioMérieux is providing a variety of resources available for download at YourRoleMatters.com. We also invite you to Take the Pledge and share your stories of stewardship and prevention on our Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MyRoleMatters/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/myrolematters) pages using #AntibioticResistance.

To learn more about reducing the antibiotic resistance threat, visit YourRoleMatters.com.

About bioMérieux

Pioneering Diagnostics

A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for 50 years, bioMérieux is present in more than 150 countries through 42 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors. In 2014, revenues reached €1.698 billion with 88% of sales outside of France.

bioMérieux provides diagnostic solutions (reagents, instruments, software) which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products are used for diagnosing infectious diseases and providing high medical value results for cancer screening and monitoring and cardiovascular emergencies. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

bioMérieux is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris market (Symbol: BIM – ISIN: FR0010096479).

Other information can be found at www.biomerieux-usa.com

Contacts

Media Relations

bioMérieux

Suzanne Jones
Tel: +1 919-479-3637
suzanne.jones@bioMérieux.com

Baker & Yorke

Tim Baker
Tel: + 1 216-338-8086
tbaker@baker-yorke.com

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