CDC Interactive Map Boasts State Successes in the Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance

As the threat of antibiotic resistance continues to grow, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been taking active steps in response. The CDC has released new data pertaining to state progress made in the fight against antibiotic resistance (AR).

The data can be found in the CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance (AR) Investment Map, a tool that now depicts over 170 state-reported successes, according to the CDC; these successes include the rapid identification and containment of rare and concerning resistant germs. Each state reported several successes in this ongoing fight against resistance.

“These are the first comprehensive reports on state progress made following the first year of Congress’ unprecedented investment in CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative,” the CDC press release reads.

With the map, individuals are able to pull up state- and city-specific fact sheets that include the amount of funding allotted to each state health department, and efforts that those funds have supported. For example, Washington received the highest amount of funds ($9,553,153) in the fiscal year 2017 out of the 50 states. According to the fact sheet, $2,196,621 of that sum was applied to AR laboratory network regional labs, $387,223 was applied to rapid detection and response of emerging drug-resistant pathogens, $780,960 went into the development of a Telestewardship Program dedicated to providing the latest science and expertise to providers in small, rural hospitals to help with improving antibiotic use, $372,273 was applied to food safety projects, and $1,594,312 was dedicated specifically to gonorrhea rapid detection and response efforts.

“Antibiotic resistance has the potential to impact all Americans at every stage of life,” Brenda Fitzgerald, MD, CDC director, said in the press release. “This interactive map showcases the work happening on the frontlines of every state and CDC’s commitment to keeping people safe from drug-resistant infections.”

The press release highlighted the following successes already reported for the fiscal year 2017:

• When an individual fell ill with a rare/concerning infection in Tennessee, responders from the state health department and health care facility responded quickly by initiating CDC’s containment protocol and isolating said patient. Within 48 hours, the responders were able to fully execute the protocol, which included AR Lab Network testing, infection control assessments, and colonization screening. No additional cases have been identified since then.
• Through the implementation of a surveillance and prevention initiative, Michigan successfully reduced Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in 40 facilities by 30% and prevented over 300 infections.
• Thirty-eight out of the 50 states are now using whole genome sequencing to better monitor outbreaks and identify resistance for Listeria, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli—bacteria that are commonly spread through contaminated food or animals. After these states detect the outbreaks, local epidemiologists supported by the CDC, launch an investigation to stop the outbreak and prevent resistance spread. Furthermore, 6 more health departments have implemented whole genome sequencing since the end of the fiscal year 2017.
• When a rare/concerning resistance gene sprung up in Kentucky, officials launched an “aggressive and coordinated” response, which contained the outbreak.
• In order to better fight resistant gonorrhea, California “increased its local response capacity” as well as its rapid susceptibility testing by eight-fold. Results from these tests can be used to inform outbreak response strategies, national treatment guidelines, and can offer insight into antibiotic resistance trends.

Since 2016, the CDC has invested $144 million to 56 state and local health departments and Puerto Rico to address the threat of antibiotic resistance. In addition, the CDC has contributed over $76 million to over 60 universities and health care partners “to find and implement innovative ways to prevent resistant infections and contain their spread.”