CDC marks the end of 2013 with its eye on the threat of a “nightmare bacteria.”  Every year, 23,000 people die as a result of infections that are resistant to antibiotics and more than two million people are sickened.  Highly drug-resistant bacteria, known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, spread from one medical facility in one state in 2001 to medical facilities in 46 states and counting in 2013.

CRE is resistant to most, and in some cases, all antibiotics.  These microbes are especially deadly, and they can pass their resistance to other microbes through “jumping genes” or plasmids.

“CRE are nightmare bacteria. Our strongest antibiotics don’t work and patients are left with potentially untreatable infections,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. “Doctors, hospital leaders, and public health, must work together now to implement CDC’s “detect and protect” strategy and stop these infections from spreading.”

CDC recently published its first report of the current antibiotic resistance threat to the United States. Healthcare facilities should follow CDC recommendations to halt CRE within their facilities.

Click to view Infographic - "Nightmare Bacteria" Threat States with one type of drug-resistant infection, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), in 2001 and 2013.