CDC Releases 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report: 19 Pathogens Listed, About 9.7 Million Infections a Year
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on October 26 released its 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report, listing 19 drug-resistant pathogens as threats in the United States. Based on 2023 data, the CDC estimates these pathogens cause about 9.7 million infections and roughly 50,800 deaths in the United States each year, with about 40,000 of the deaths linked to health care-associated infections and related health care costs of about $12 billion.
The report ranks threats in three tiers. Four are urgent threats: the fungus Candidozyma auris (Candida auris), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), and drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Thirteen are serious threats, including newly listed drug-resistant Neisseria meningitidis; Clostridioides difficile was moved down from urgent to serious as control efforts progressed. Two are concerning threats: clindamycin-resistant Group B Streptococcus and drug-resistant Group A Streptococcus. Six additional pathogens were placed on a watch list.
Candidozyma auris drew the most attention in the report: infections have risen about tenfold since 2019. The fungus spreads mainly in health care settings such as long-term care facilities, survives for long periods on skin and surfaces, is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, and kills 30 to 60 percent of patients with invasive infections. The CDC cautioned that, because of changes in methodology, the new figures cannot be directly compared with earlier reports except for C. auris.
Wendy Armstrong, president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, said microbes evolve faster than new drugs are developed, and that fighting resistance requires sustained investment in new antibiotics, vaccines, rapid diagnostics, and infection prevention. The CDC urged health care facilities to strengthen infection control and use antibiotics judiciously to slow the emergence and spread of resistance.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：疾控中心（CDC）《2026年抗微生物药物耐药威胁报告》官网题图，美国政府作品，公共领域
