Nearly twice as many people are dying in the United States from drug-resistant infections as previously thought, according to recent findings of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In its first report on antibiotic-resistant infections in six years, the CDC states that 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant infections occur annually, resulting in 35,000 deaths.
A recent Washington University study painted an even grimmer picture, estimating as many as 160,000 deaths each year from multidrug-resistant infections.
The microbes, or so-called superbugs, responsible for these infections are growing at a rate that continues to alarm U.S. health officials. The CDC’s 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats List includes 18 drug-resistant bacteria identified as posing concerning to serious threat to human health.
Chronic overuse and misuse of antibiotics and other antimicrobials promotes drug resistance by encouraging bacteria and other pathogens to mutate in order to withstand the effects of drugs and disinfectants.
U.S. health officials and healthcare facilities are faced with an unprecedented challenge given the steady rise and devastating effects of multidrug-resistant infections. Disinfectant products and protocols traditionally used for infection prevention are proving ineffective against the 18 microbes identified in the CDC’s AR Threats List, not to mention countless others.
Click here to read more from Reuters about the current threat of drug resistance putting all Americans at risk.
