About Antimicrobial Resistance & Spread
Since the discovery of penicillin, germs have continued to develop new types of resistance.
Once AR emerges, it can spread into new settings and between countries.
Learn how bacteria and fungi fight back against antibiotics and antifungals.
Resistance traits can be inherited and can pass directly from germ to germ by way of mobile genetic...
AR is a global public health threat. Here's 5 things to know about this One Health issue.
Antimicrobial-resistant germs can spread within and between healthcare facilities.
Antimicrobial-resistant germs can live and spread within the community and the environment.
Animals can carry antimicrobial-resistant germs in their gut. These germs can get into the food supp...
Antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and fungi can spread across countries and continents through people...
This 2019 report from CDC, the second of its kind, presents national death and infection estimates t...
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Actions to Combat Resistance
No one can completely avoid getting an infection, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.
You can protect your patients from antimicrobial-resistant germs that can cause difficult and someti...
State and local health departments fight antimicrobial resistance, but more support is needed as new...
Veterinarians are leaders and stewards in preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics and antifungal...
Livestock and poultry producers are key to combating AR. Adopt these practices to continue protectin...
What CDC is Doing: Investments & U.S. Action
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A fact sheet that provides a timeline of the key U.S. actions to combat AR from 2011 to present.
Preventing infections, stopping spread of bacteria and fungi, and improving use of antibiotics and a...
CDC fights AR in communities through the AR Solutions Initiative.
Environment: CDC Fights Antimicrobial Resistance
CDC combats AR in food, farms, and animals through the AR Solutions Initiative
CDC supports activities around the world to combat antimicrobial resistance.
CDC combats AR in healthcare setting through the AR Solutions Initiative.
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CDC invests in innovation to drive action and empower the United States to respond to AR.
Funded by CDC’s AR Solutions Initiative, the AR Lab Network empowers public health laboratories in a...
COVID-19 & Antimicrobial Resistance
Building Public Health Capacity for Antimicrobial Resistance
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the detection and reporting of antimicrobial resistance data slowed tr...
Pandemic-related challenges hindered many infection prevention and control practices like hand hygie...
While antibiotic use throughout the pandemic varied across healthcare settings, antibiotics were com...
In 2020, researchers leveraged an existing project funded by CDC’s AR Solutions Initiative focused o...
The U.S. lost progress combating AR in 2020 due, in large part, to effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Content Source
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
About This Page
Published: May 15, 2024
Updated: December 15, 2025
This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.
Reviewed: December 15, 2025
The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.