CDC Warns of Rising Threat of Drug-Resistant Germs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning about the growing danger posed by drug-resistant germs in the United States. According to the CDC, 19 drug-resistant pathogens are responsible for 9.7 million infections and over 50,000 deaths each year, despite efforts to develop new treatments. This issue is deemed one of the most pressing public health concerns by the agency.

The CDC has conducted its first comprehensive assessment of these drug-resistant pathogens in seven years, providing a detailed overview of the threats facing the U.S. population. The report ranks the pathogens based on the number and severity of infections they cause, their preventability and transmissibility, and the number and cost of available treatment options.

Four pathogens are deemed the most urgent concerns: the fungus Candida auris, the bacteria responsible for gonorrhea (which has become resistant to nearly all antibiotics used to treat it), Acinetobacter, and Enterobacterales. Both Acinetobacter and Enterobacterales are resistant to a class of antibiotics considered a last resort for patients.

The report also identifies a new bacteria, Neisseria meningitidis, as a concern, despite being less worrisome than the others. This bacteria, which causes meningococcal disease, is developing resistance to penicillin and ciprofloxacin. Additionally, the CDC notes that Clostridioides difficile (C. diff), a rare but life-threatening bacteria that causes diarrhea and colon inflammation, is causing fewer cases year over year.

The agency has downgraded C. diff from a serious threat to a serious threat, whereas it was categorized as urgent in the 2019 version of the report.