Drug-Resistant Germs are 'Growing Threat' to US, Causing More Than 50,000 Deaths Annually: CDC

A new CDC report finds that drug-resistant bacteria and fungi cause an estimated 9.7 million infections and 50,800 deaths annually in the United States.

Four pathogens are classified as urgent threats, including Candida auris, whose reported cases increased more than 50% from 2022 to 2023, and bacteria resistant to some of the strongest available antibiotics. Healthcare-associated infections also accounted for nearly $12 billion in costs in 2023.

The report highlights the importance of infection prevention, appropriate antibiotic use and continued surveillance to reduce drug-resistant infections and protect patients. Read more from ABC News here.