Related CDC Antimicrobial Resistance Programs

Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistance at CDC

Drug resistance, more technically known as antimicrobial resistance, is a growing concern among health professionals and others around the world. CDC's main Antibiotic /Antimicrobial Resistance website is designed to provide both general and technical information about antimicrobial resistance. It includes definitions and explanations, tips for preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance, and general tips for reducing the spread of contagious (infectious) diseases. In addition, the site includes clinical guidelines, surveillance data, scientific publications, and internal and external links for more in-depth information.

Get Smart for Healthcare

The goal of Get Smart for Healthcare is to optimize the use of antimicrobial agents in inpatient healthcare settings by focusing on strategies to help hospitals and other inpatient facilities implement interventions to improve antibiotic use. Interventions and programs designed to improve antibiotic use are also referred to as “antimicrobial stewardship.” Studies demonstrate that improving the use of antibiotics in hospitals can not only help reduce rates of Clostridium difficile infection and antibiotic resistance, but can also improve individual patient outcomes, all while saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in healthcare costs.

Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work on the Farm

Critically important antibiotics used in human medicine are also being used in agricultural and companion animal practices. Current data indicate that antibiotic resistance can pass from animals to humans and resistance to antibiotics is increasing in both human and veterinary medicine. To prevent further resistance from disseminating, it is crucial to educate. Get Smart: Know When Antibiotics Work on the Farm was created to coordinate educational activities for veterinarians, pet owners, food-animal producers, and consumers about antibiotic resistance and appropriate antibiotic use.

National MRSA Education Initiative

The goal of the National MRSA Education Initiative is to help Americans better recognize and prevent MRSA skin infections. Why is this important? Recent data show that Americans visit the doctor approximately 12 million times each year to get checked for suspected Staph or MRSA skin infection. The good news is that a few simple steps can prevent and reduce the spread of MRSA.