Generated Summary
This report, titled “Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2019,” published by the CDC, focuses on the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance and its impact on public health in the United States. The study employs a multi-faceted approach, including data analysis from various sources, to assess the burden of antibiotic resistance, identify key threats, and propose actions to combat this growing issue. The report includes data and statistics related to the threat of antibiotic resistance, including burden estimates of infections and deaths, and highlights the challenges and opportunities in detection, treatment, and national action to combat antibiotic resistance. The report provides insights into antibiotic exposure across various settings, the mechanisms by which resistance occurs, and the factors that affect human and animal health.
Key Findings & Statistics
- 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the United States each year.
- 35,000 people die each year as a direct result of antibiotic-resistant infections.
- 223,900 people in the United States required hospital care for *C. difficile* in 2017.
- At least 12,800 people died from *C. difficile* in 2017.
- Deaths are decreasing since the 2013 report.
- More than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur in the United States each year, and more than 35,000 people die as a result.
- Approximately 1.7 million adults develop sepsis each year.
- 1.2 million women had a cesarean section in 2017.
- More than 30 million people have diabetes.
- More than 33,000 organ transplants were performed in 2016.
- More than 500,000 patients received dialysis treatment in 2016.
- Around 650,000 people receive outpatient chemotherapy each year.
- From 2012 to 2017, the number of antibiotic-resistant infections seen in hospitals dropped 27 percent.
- The number of deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections fell nearly 30 percent in hospitals since 2013.
- Antibiotic resistance overall has decreased by 18% since 2013.
- Infections caused by *Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus* decreased by 41%
- Infections caused by *Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa* decreased by 29%.
- Infections caused by *Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)* decreased by 21%.
- Infections caused by *Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter* decreased by 33%.
- Infections caused by *Drug-resistant Candida* decreased by 25%.
- Infections caused by *Erythromycin-resistant invasive group A strep* increased by 315%.
- Infections caused by *Drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae* increased by 124%.
- Infections caused by *ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae* increased by 50%.
- More than 2.6 million antibiotic-resistant infections occurred each year when the 2013 report was published and nearly 44,000 deaths occurred each year.
Other Important Findings
- Antibiotic resistance is a One Health problem, meaning it affects humans, animals, and the environment.
- The report lists 18 germs into three categories: urgent, serious, and concerning.
- There are also 3 threats on a watch list.
- Factors that are included in assigning threat levels include clinical impact, economic impact, incidence, 10-year projection of incidence, transmissibility, availability of effective antibiotics, and barriers to prevention.
- The report highlights that dedicated prevention and infection control efforts have reduced the number of infections and deaths caused by antibiotic-resistant germs.
- CDC is concerned about rising resistant infections in the community.
- CDC used stronger methods and data sources to calculate several estimates, specifically for healthcare-associated germs.
- As detection and surveillance capabilities increased, awareness of the scope and complexity of antibiotic resistance has also grown.
- Antibiotics are critical tools for treating common and complex infections among humans, animals, and crops.
- CDC works with partners to drive aggressive action and empower the nation to respond comprehensively through its Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Solutions Initiative.
- Germs can become resistant to antibiotics, with the ability to share resistance genes with other germs.
- The development of new antibiotics is important, but it’s not the only solution, as germs continually adapt.
- The report emphasizes the importance of prevention in the first place.
- The report emphasizes that preventing the spread of germs and improving infection prevention and antibiotic use in all settings.
Limitations Noted in the Document
- The 2013 report, used the best data available at the time, but data limitations led to an underestimate of the true burden of antibiotic resistance.
- The data sources and methods varied by germ.
- The use of databases also has important advantages over methods that utilize International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnosis codes or death certificate data, which likely underreport the true burden of cases and death from antibiotic resistance.
- The report does not provide a specific estimate for the financial cost of antibiotic-resistant infections on a national scale.
- Many limitations exist when calculating the burden of disease associated with antibiotic-resistant germs, which is why the totals are an estimate of the true burden of illness.
Conclusion
The 2019 report emphasizes that antibiotic resistance poses a significant threat to public health, affecting humans, animals, and the environment. Despite efforts to combat resistance, the number of infections and deaths remains high, underscoring the need for continued and aggressive action. The report identifies a number of gaps and limitations in current approaches, highlighting the complexity of the issue and the need for comprehensive strategies. This report details the importance of preventing infections, improving antibiotic use, and stopping the spread of resistance to protect American lives now and in the future. The report stresses that it is imperative for the United States to continue taking a global, One Health approach to combating antibiotic resistance, as resistance knows no borders. The report concludes by stressing the importance of preventing infections in the first place and stopping spread to make sure patients are not harmed or killed by these resistant threats, and it encourages continued action, innovation, and aggressive action to combat antibiotic resistance.