Drug-resistant bacteria and fungi now cause an estimated 9.7 million infections and 50,800 deaths in the United States every year, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency released its updated Antimicrobial Resistance (AR) Threats Report on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, and it paints a more worrying picture than the last one, published in 2019.
Here is what the report found, which germs are the biggest threats, why the numbers should be read with some care, and what experts say needs to happen next.
Key Takeaways
- The CDC estimates 9.7 million drug-resistant infections and 50,800 deaths a year in the U.S., based on 2023 data.
- The report tracks 19 threats: 4 urgent, 13 serious and 2 concerning.
- Healthcare-associated infections accounted for more than 42,000 of those deaths and nearly $12 billion in costs.
- The 2019 report estimated 2.8 million infections and 35,000 deaths, but the CDC says the two reports should not be compared directly because data sources and methods changed.
- There is some good news: C. difficile was moved from "urgent" to "serious" after infections declined.
Table of Contents
- The Numbers at a Glance
- Why You Can't Compare Directly With 2019
- The 4 Urgent Threats
- Candida auris: A Tenfold Rise
- NDM-CRE: The "Nightmare Bacteria" Surge
- Where There Is Progress
- Why Resistance Keeps Spreading
- What Experts Say Must Happen Next
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Sources
The Numbers at a Glance
| Measure | 2026 report (2023 data) |
|---|---|
| Drug-resistant infections per year | About 9.7 million |
| Deaths per year | About 50,800 |
| Deaths linked to healthcare-associated infections | More than 42,000 |
| Healthcare cost of those infections | Nearly $12 billion |
| Pathogens tracked | 19 (4 urgent, 13 serious, 2 concerning), plus 6 more under monitoring |
CDC Director Erica Schwartz said the findings show both the progress made and the significant work that remains.
Why You Can't Compare Directly With 2019
The last CDC report, released in 2019, used 2013 data and estimated 2.8 million resistant infections and 35,000 deaths a year. At first glance, the new figures look like a huge jump. CDC scientists caution against that comparison.
According to a CDC senior science advisor interviewed by Healio, the agency updated both its data sources and its methods. For example, group A and group B strep were previously counted only when infections were invasive, and the new report includes non-invasive infections too. For C. difficile, the old report counted only hospitalized patients, while the new one adds non-hospitalized cases. The CDC says some of the increase reflects these changes, but that it does not mean the problem is not getting worse. Increases are real in several pathogens, particularly healthcare-associated infections.
The 4 Urgent Threats
The CDC's highest-risk category is called "urgent." Four germs sit there, all of which also topped the previous list:
- Candida auris (now also called Candidozyma auris), a fungus that spreads in hospitals
- Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter
- Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE)
- Drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae, the bacteria that cause gonorrhea
Thirteen more threats are listed as "serious," including MRSA, drug-resistant tuberculosis, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and drug-resistant Salmonella and Shigella. Two, drug-resistant group A strep and clindamycin-resistant group B strep, are listed as "concerning."
Candida auris: A Tenfold Rise
The report counts 4,523 C. auris cases in 2023, about ten times the number in 2019. Separate coverage notes cases jumped more than 50% between 2022 and 2023 alone. The fungus is often resistant to drugs and has become an important hospital pathogen. The CDC has also previously noted that some strains resist multiple classes of antifungal medicines, though those cases remain uncommon.
NDM-CRE: The "Nightmare Bacteria" Surge
Many headlines about the new report also mention NDM-CRE, a type of CRE that carries an enzyme making it resistant to nearly all available antibiotics. It is worth being precise here: the famous 460% figure comes from a separate CDC study published in September 2025 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, which found NDM-CRE infections rose by more than 460% between 2019 and 2023.
That study used data from 29 states and did not include several heavily populated ones, including California, Florida, New York and Texas, so the real increase may be higher. Researchers pointed to gaps in infection control and limited lab testing as possible factors, and NDM-CRE has historically been uncommon in the U.S., so doctors may not suspect it right away.
In the 2026 report, CRE overall caused an estimated 14,878 infections in hospitalized patients and 1,252 deaths in 2023.
Where There Is Progress
The report is not only bad news. C. difficile, long considered an urgent threat, was downgraded to "serious." The CDC says C. diff rates fell by 21% between 2018 and 2020 and stayed stable in healthcare settings from 2020 to 2023, and credits infection prevention, antibiotic stewardship, better diagnostics and new treatments. Even so, C. diff still caused more than 412,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths among hospitalized patients in 2023.
Why Resistance Keeps Spreading
- Antibiotic and antifungal misuse. Every time a drug is used, germs get a chance to adapt. The CDC says even misuse of over-the-counter antifungal creams, including steroid-antifungal combinations, may contribute.
- Gene sharing between germs. Bacteria can pass resistance genes to one another, which lets infections evade more drugs.
- Infection control gaps. Inconsistent hand hygiene, cleaning and testing allow resistant germs to spread in hospitals and long-term care.
- Too few new drugs. Infectious disease groups say new antimicrobials are urgently needed, which is why they are pushing Congress to pass the bipartisan PASTEUR Act.
What Experts Say Must Happen Next
The CDC says it is relying on state health departments, hospital reporting, specialized lab testing and whole genome sequencing to spot resistant germs earlier. The president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America said the numbers are alarming and that drug-resistant infections make routine care such as chemotherapy, transplants and joint replacements riskier. Experts also emphasize antibiotic stewardship, meaning prescribing antibiotics only when they are needed.
What can you do? Antibiotics do not work on viruses like colds and flu, so do not pressure your doctor for them. Take any prescribed antibiotic exactly as directed, wash your hands regularly and stay up to date on vaccines. This article is general information, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about your own situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Americans die from drug-resistant infections each year?
The CDC estimates about 50,800 deaths a year, based on 2023 data.
What are the CDC's urgent drug-resistant threats?
Candida auris, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales and drug-resistant gonorrhea.
Is the problem really that much worse than in 2019?
Partly. The CDC says infections have increased for several germs, but the new numbers also reflect broader data sources and updated methods, so they should not be compared directly with 2019.
What is NDM-CRE?
It is a type of carbapenem-resistant bacteria with an enzyme that makes it resistant to nearly all available antibiotics. A separate 2025 CDC study found these infections rose by more than 460% between 2019 and 2023.
Was there any good news in the report?
Yes. C. difficile was downgraded from an urgent to a serious threat after infection rates fell.
The Bottom Line
The CDC's new report shows drug-resistant infections are a major and growing public health problem, with some real progress alongside some real warning signs. The exact size of the increase since 2019 is hard to measure because the way these cases are counted has changed, but infectious disease experts agree that stronger prevention, smarter antibiotic use and new treatments are needed.
Sources
- CDC: Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report
- Healio: Millions at risk for drug-resistant infections, CDC says
- NBC News: CDC warns of rising threat of drug-resistant germs
- Gizmodo: Superbugs are winning
- FOX 13: Drug-resistant germs a growing threat to Americans
- Scientific American: Infections of drug-resistant "nightmare bacteria" are surging
- Healthcare Purchasing News: NDM-CRE rates surging in U.S. hospitals
Editorial note: This article summarizes public reporting and CDC data and is not medical advice. Last updated October 28, 2026.
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