CDC funding accelerates antibiotic resistance efforts

CDC is providing $67 million to help health departments nationwide tackle antibiotic resistance and other patient safety threats, including healthcare-associated infections. The new funding for antibiotic resistance, part of the awards available through CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Infectious Diseases Cooperative Agreement (ELC) announced last week, also supports seven new regional laboratories with specialized capabilities allowing rapid detection and identification of emerging antibiotic resistant threats.

These funds will be distributed to all 50 state health departments, six local health departments (Chicago, the District of Columbia, Houston, Los Angeles County, New York City and Philadelphia), and Puerto Rico. The awards support activities related to CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Solutions Initiative and implementation of the surveillance, prevention, and stewardship activities outlined in the National Action Plan for the Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria.

In addition to the detection capacity provided through the seven regional labs strategically placed across the country, every state health department lab will be able to test for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (“nightmare bacteria”) and work towards performing whole genome sequencing on intestinal bacteria, including Salmonella, Shigella and many Campylobacter. These advancements will allow for faster identification and response to outbreaks and rapid identification of known markers of antibiotic resistance.

Expanded prevention and response

Available to jurisdictions starting August 1, the funding will dramatically expand existing capabilities to track infections in healthcare settings, protect patients through targeted prevention, and increase coordination across medical care.

These investments also will strengthen state ability to conduct foodborne disease tracking, investigation and prevention, including increased support for the PulseNet and OutbreakNet systems and for the Integrated Food Safety Centers of Excellence, plus continued support for the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS).

CDC also will provide support teams in nine health departments for rapid response activities designed to quickly identify and respond to the threat of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea in the U.S.

In addition, for the first time, CDC is supporting direct assistance to support high-level expertise to implement antimicrobial resistance activities in six states, including to implement a coordinated approach in communities and across healthcare settings to prevent infections and limit the spread of antibiotic resistance.

For more information on CDC’s ELC Cooperative Agreement and the breakdown of FY16 funding, please visit the ELC webpage at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncezid/dpei/epidemiology-laboratory-capacity.html.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES