Global Action to Fight Antimicrobial Resistance
Antimicrobial resistance has been identified in all regions of the world. A resistant threat anywhere can quickly become a threat at home. CDC is leading the public health fight as the U.S. continues to take a global One Health approach to combat antimicrobial resistance. CDC supports activities in nearly 30 high-burden countries throughout the world to improve antibiotic and antifungal use, track resistance, and implement infection prevention and control activities. Learn more about how antimicrobial resistance can spread across the world.
CDC implements activities outlined in the U.S. National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, released in 2015 and 2020. These activities are funded through CDC antimicrobial resistance investments, collectively known as CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Solutions Initiative. Through these investments, CDC is transforming how the nation combats antimicrobial resistance.
CDC Activities
Building Local, Regional, & National Capacity
- Enhancing laboratory capacity through CDC’s AR Lab Networks to detect and report antimicrobial resistance with global health implications
- Establishing and strengthening national tracking systems to respond rapidly to outbreaks, identify emerging pathogens, and track trends
Collaborating with Global Partners
- Contributing to the development and implementation of national action plans to address resistance
- Implementing healthcare programs to prevent the spread of resistance, including infection prevention and control programs; water, sanitation, and hygiene programs; and antibiotic/antifungal stewardship programs
- Offering CDC infection control experts for technical assistance globally
Additional Work in Progress
- Establishing “learning laboratories” to develop or test innovative, cost-effective solutions for containing urgent antimicrobial-resistant germs
- Improving international collaboration and capacities for prevention, surveillance, and infection control
Examples of CDC Activities in Action
- Experts are working throughout Latin America to implement national policy, guidelines, and tools to strengthen infection prevention and control capacities to decrease the burden of healthcare-associated infections and contain resistance threats when they are detected in healthcare facilities
- Experts in several countries have developed infection prevention and control resources and a framework to help estimate the cost-effectiveness of interventions
- CDC co-led The Antimicrobial Resistance Challenge, a yearlong effort by the U.S. government resulting in more than 350 organizations across the globe committing to take actions that will slow antimicrobial resistance