CDC releases 2019 report on antibiotic resistance threats

Editor's Note

More than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the US each year, resulting in more than 35,000 deaths, according to a new “Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States 2019” report from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC).

The CDC also notes that 223,900 cases of Clostridioides difficile occurred in 2017, and nearly 12,800 patients died.

The report includes a list of 18 antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi in three categories based on the level of concern to patients as well as a "Watch List" with three threats that have not spread resistance widely but could become more common without an aggressive approach.

The CDC published the first antibiotic resistance threats report in 2013. The 2013 and 2019 reports do not include viruses (eg, HIV, influenza) or parasites.