New report issued on antibiotic resistance
A new report, "Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2013," gives a first-ever snapshot of the burden and threats posed by the antibiotic-resistant germs having the most impact on human health. The report is available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) web site. Go to http://1.usa.gov/1aHZij4 to access it.
Each year in the U.S., the CDC estimates at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics and at least 23,000 people die each year as a direct result of these infections. Many more people die from other conditions that were complicated by an antibiotic-resistant infection, the CDC states.
Antibiotic-resistant infections can happen anywhere, according to the CDC. Data show that while most happen in the general community, the majority of deaths related to antibiotic resistance occur in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes.
