Infection Rates of Drug-Resistant Bacteria Surge
ATLANTA — Recent data indicates that infections from drug-resistant “nightmare bacteria” have spiked nearly 70% from 2019 to 2023, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The uptick is primarily driven by bacteria harboring the NDM gene, which researchers detailed in a recent article in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Only two antibiotics are effective against these infections, and they’re costly and require IV administration.
Once considered rare and mostly related to patients who received medical care abroad, the incidence of these bacteria in the U.S. has surged more than five times in recent years, as noted by the CDC researchers.
David Weiss, an infectious disease expert at Emory University, expressed concern via email, stating, “The rise of NDMs in the U.S. is a grave danger and very worrisome.”
The CDC scientists pointed out that many individuals may unknowingly carry these resistant bacteria, raising the potential for community spread. This could complicate cases of infections traditionally seen as routine, such as urinary tract infections, according to Dr. Maroya Walters, one of the study’s authors.
Antimicrobial resistance occurs when germs, like bacteria and fungi, become capable of resisting the drugs designed to eliminate them. A significant contributor to this problem is the inappropriate use of antibiotics, including unfinished prescriptions that leave some germs stronger.
The CDC has been highlighting concerns over “nightmare bacteria” that show resistance to multiple antibiotics, particularly carbapenems, which are often a last resort for serious infections.
In their analysis, researchers examined data from 29 states that regularly conduct testing and report on carbapenem-resistant bacteria. They identified 4,341 cases of these infections in 2023, with 1,831 attributed to the NDM variety. However, the report did not specify how many individuals died from these infections.
The rate of carbapenem-resistant infections rose from just under 2 per 100,000 people in 2019 to over 3 per 100,000 in 2023, marking a 69% increase. Notably, NDM cases skyrocketed from around 0.25 to approximately 1.35 per 100,000 — a staggering 460% rise.
Interestingly, a researcher not involved in this particular study suggested that the COVID-19 pandemic may have played a role in this increase. Dr. Jason Burnham from Washington University noted, “We know that there was a huge surge in antibiotic use during the pandemic, so this likely is reflected in increasing drug resistance.”
However, the CDC’s figures likely provide only a partial perspective. Many states aren’t conducting comprehensive testing or reporting cases, and in those that do, cases typically occur among hospitalized patients requiring specialized testing. Moreover, several hospitals lack the capacity to conduct adequate testing for specific types of genetic resistance.
The CDC researchers also highlighted that they did not have data from populous states like California, Florida, New York, and Texas, leading Burnham to conclude that the number of U.S. infections is likely “definitely underestimated.”
This isn’t the first alert regarding rising infection rates; a previous CDC report indicated an increase in NDM cases in New York City between 2019 and 2024.
