Feature Stories: CDC Solutions to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance

CDC is a leader in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. Through its AR Solutions Initiative, CDC works with partners to drive aggressive action and empower the nation to respond to this global threat.

U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week Focuses on Prevention

Every year, CDC honors U.S. Antibiotic Awareness Week to raise awareness and share information on the importance of improving antibiotic and antifungal use. Antibiotics and antifungals save lives, but any time they are used, they can cause side effects and can contribute to the development of resistance. Prevention puts a “pause” on antimicrobial resistance (AR), and we all have a role in combating AR.

AR Investments in Wastewater Detection Helped Protect People from COVID-19

CDC funded the University of South Carolina to measure antimicrobial-resistant genes in wastewater. With additional funding, researchers built upon this work to measure the levels of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater and determine if COVID-19 infections were increasing or decreasing in specific communities. This information can act as an early warning system to stop the spread of deadly germs in U.S. communities.

CDC Invests in Multi-Country Projects to Help Stop Spread of Resistance

As part of the Global Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory and Response Network, ARCH partners are investigating high-risk, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in six countries to increase understanding of how these germs spread in communities and healthcare settings.

Pilot to Test for Drug-resistant Gonorrhea in Emergency Departments

Gonorrhea leads to more than an estimated half a million drug-resistant infections in the United States each year. Read how CDC is collaborating with health departments in two states to expand drug-resistant gonorrhea surveillance beyond traditional clinics and into emergency departments, where more people are seeking care for sexually transmitted infections.

CDC Prioritizes Health Equity Issues Related to Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance can affect any person, at any stage of life. CDC recognizes that social determinants can impact the health outcomes of specific populations. Read how CDC programs are prioritizing health equity issues for high-risk and vulnerable populations to attain the highest level of health for all people.

AR Investments at Work: Protecting Patients and Healthcare Personnel from COVID-19

CDC is investing in partner initiatives for infection prevention and control practices in hospitals, long-term acute care facilities, and nursing homes. Read how these investments are proving to be integral in reducing the spread of antimicrobial-resistant germs, and, most recently, the virus that causes COVID-19 within healthcare facilities.

Experts Discuss Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance After COVID-19

For CDC’s first AMR Exchange of the year, CDC met with leading antimicrobial resistance experts to discuss their visions for addressing this threat post-pandemic. Read about their experiences and lessons learned, underscoring the importance of resilient health systems.

CDC Partners Estimate Healthcare Cost of Antimicrobial-resistant Infections

CDC and the University of Utah School of Medicine conducted one of the largest studies on healthcare costs to treat six of the 18 most alarming antimicrobial resistance threats. Cost estimates can help guide actions needed to prevent resistant infections. Read how much resistance threats contribute to healthcare costs annually.

Exploring New Approaches to Diagnose Clostridiodes difficile Infections

CDC and Henderson Lab assessed fecal metabolomes (amounts of all chemicals in feces) from patients tested for C. difficile infections. Read how this work will help to better understand what is happening in the body and what causes C. difficile.

Tailoring Antibiotic Treatment for Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Through a project with CDC, Brown Lab developed new approaches to study the lung microbiomes of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), who often get chronic infections. This work will help improve antibiotic treatments for these patients. Read about tailored antibiotic treatments for CF.

CDC is Taking Global Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance

CDC works around the world to combat antimicrobial resistance (AR), which is sometimes referred to as antimicrobial resistance (AMR) outside of the United States. Read about how CDC and the U.S. government are emphasizing the importance of accelerating the fight against AR resistance globally by calling on stakeholders to take bold actions through the AMR Challenge. Read about how CDC is taking global action to fight AR.

Tracking Antimicrobial Resistance in Kenya and Senegal

As of 2018, CDC is working with experts in 28 countries with its Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Solutions Initiative to develop and pilot solutions that address the emergence and spread of resistance. Read about how public health experts in Kenya and Senegal are collaborating with CDC to strengthen their AR surveillance to better track and respond to resistance threats. Read about how tracking antimicrobial resistance in Kenya and Senegal.

CDC Core Elements to Help Resource-Limited Settings Improve Antibiotic Use

In 2018, CDC released a new Core Elements as a guide for implementing antibiotic stewardship programs in resource-limited settings that have fragile health systems and lack robust, regulatory frameworks. It provides practical, high-impact strategies to improve antibiotic use and fight antimicrobial resistance. Read about the Core Elements guide.

Antimicrobial Resistance: A Global Threat

Antimicrobial resistance requires a collaborative approach across countries to detect, prevent, and respond to these threats. Global leaders are joining CDC’s AMR Challenge by committing to action across healthcare, food, communities, and the environment (soil and water) to accelerate the fight. Read more about CDC collaboration to support global action.

Combating Antimicrobial Resistance in Vietnam

Vietnam has made fighting antimicrobial resistance a national priority. CDC is helping Vietnam establish a national surveillance system, which will provide the framework to track, detect, and contain the spread of antimicrobial resistance in the country. The overall goal of this effort is to keep patients safe. Read about combating antimicrobial resistance in Vietnam.

Pilot Program with HP Accelerates Antibiotic Testing

In 2018, CDC and HP Inc. launched a pilot program that installed HP printers as part of CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network. The inkjet printing technology, adapted for printing antibiotic susceptibility testing panels, will help clinicians decide if a new-to-market drug could effectively treat a highly drug-resistant infection. Read about the pilot program to accelerate antibiotic testing.

Stop Spread of Unusual Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is harder to control once it spreads and becomes common. A CDC report highlighted the importance of containing the spread of “unusual” resistance and includes data from CDC’s AR Lab Network, a resource that can help identify these threats rapidly. Read about how CDC empowers states to help keep germs from spreading.

Stopping C. auris in an Oklahoma Hospital

Read about when CDC and the state Health Department worked with hospital staff to rapidly identify other cases of Candida auris after the hospital identified a patient with the multidrug-resistant fungus in 2017.

Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Lab Network Established as New Fungal Threat Emerges

CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network (AR Lab Network) supports nationwide lab capacity to rapidly detect antimicrobial resistance, and inform local responses to prevent spread and protect people. Read an example of the AR Lab Network’s importance and early success, highlighted in its response to the emerging resistant fungus, Candida auris.

C. auris: CDC’s Response to a Global Emerging Threat

Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast. In 2016, CDC released a clinical alert asking labs and healthcare workers to be on the lookout for C. auris, and investigated reported cases with state and local public health partners. CDC continues to actively work with partners to better contain and prevent spread of C. auris. Read about CDC’s response to C. auris.

Improving Antimicrobial Prescribing with Rapid Diagnostics and Education

CDC is working to help healthcare providers better diagnose Valley fever, caused by a fungus, in part by supporting development of rapid diagnostic tests. These tests can quickly provide clinicians with the information they need to appropriately treat patients. Read about improving antimicrobial prescribing.

CDC and Partners Tackle Drug-Resistant TB in India

To protect Americans from threats like drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), CDC is reinforcing international collaborations and capacities with countries worldwide. This includes improving TB infection control in key healthcare facilities; strengthening diagnostic and treatment services in the public and private sector; and increasing TB treatment adherence to reduce rates and spread. Read about tackling drug-resistant TB.

Newly Reported Gene, mcr-1, Threatens Last-Resort Antibiotics

A new gene known as mcr -1—which can make bacteria resistant a last-resort drug—was first reported in China in November 2015 and in the United States in May 2016. Read how CDC and federal partners began hunting for and tracking mcr -1 in the United States and the importance of a coordinated public health response.

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