CDC reports 460% surge in drug-resistant bacteria 

Infections caused by a highly drug-resistant and dangerous bacteria known as NDM-producing carpabenem-resistant Enterobacterales, or NDM-CRE, have surged by more than 460% in the U.S. between 2019 and 2023, according to a CDC report.

NDM-CRE are resistant to some of the strongest antibiotics available, making them extremely difficult to treat, the agency said in a Sept. 23 report. These infections — including pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections and wound infections — are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. In 2020 alone, the bacteria caused an estimated 12,700 infections and 1,100 deaths in the U.S.

“This sharp rise in NDM-CRE means we face a growing threat that limits our ability to treat some of the most serious bacterial infections,” Danielle Rankin, PhD, an epidemiologist at the agency’s division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, said in a statement. “Selecting the right treatment has never been more complicated, so it is vitally important that healthcare providers have access to testing to help them select the proper targeted therapies.” 

Many healthcare providers may be unaware of NDM-CRE or lack access to rapid testing tools that identify the specific resistance mechanism, the CDC said. The agency emphasized the importance of accurate detection and timely treatment selection, noting that researchers are still studying the causes behind the surge. Early evidence points to gaps in infection control practices and limited testing capacity across clinical settings as key contributing factors.

To slow the spread, the CDC urged clinicians to remain alert and to follow standard precautions, such as strict hand hygiene and use of gowns and gloves during patient care. It also recommended that healthcare facilities pursue testing through clinical laboratories where available, or public health labs when not.

In recent years, the CDC has also warned about growing threats posed by Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus the agency has deemed an urgent antimicrobial resistance threat due to its ability to spread quickly in healthcare settings and cause severe infections. Clinical cases of C. auris jumped more than 50% from 2022 to 2023. 

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