CDC Telebriefing: Protecting Patients from Antibiotic Resistance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report, revealing that antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi cause more than 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths in the United States each year.

The report, presented during a telebriefing on November 13, 2019, by CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, M.D., and Michael Craig, MPP, from the Antibiotic Resistance Coordination and Strategy Unit, highlights both progress and ongoing challenges in combating antimicrobial resistance.

According to the CDC, infection prevention efforts are showing positive results, but continued action is essential to protect the public from drug-resistant infections. The agency emphasizes that antimicrobial resistance can spread between people, animals, and the environment, leading to potentially deadly health outcomes.

The CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Lab Network plays a critical role in detecting and responding to resistant threats across the United States. The network supports quicker identification of resistance patterns and helps guide public health responses to outbreaks.

In addition to surveillance, the CDC promotes antibiotic stewardship as a key strategy to slow the development of resistance. This includes improving how antibiotics are prescribed and used in healthcare settings, including outpatient telemedicine, where guidance has been issued to optimize antibiotic use during virtual visits.

The agency also maintains the AR Isolate Bank, which provides researchers with samples of resistant organisms to support the development of new drugs and diagnostic tools. Funding and investment maps are published to show where CDC resources are directed to combat drug-resistant infections.

Public communication efforts have been strengthened through toolkits designed to educate healthcare professionals, patients, and the public about antimicrobial resistance and preventive actions. These materials are informed by formative research and aim to promote appropriate antibiotic use and infection control practices.

The CDC notes that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted progress in antimicrobial resistance prevention in 2020, underscoring the need for sustained investment and coordination across healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sectors to address this ongoing public health threat.