CDC Releases Genetic Data on Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella Infections

For the first time, the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) annual report includes whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of bacteria from people with antibiotic-resistant Salmonella infections. With WGS, health officials can rapidly detect genes that make bacteria resistant to some antibiotics which are critically important to treat infections. WGS enables the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to track antibiotic resistance patterns and trends more effectively. An interactive web tool for viewing data is also available.
 
The 2014 NARMS Annual Human Isolates Report provides the most recent national data on antibiotic resistance among six types of bacteria that can cause diarrhea or bloodstream infections.  These bacteria are commonly spread through food.
 
NARMS, established in 1996, is a collaboration of state and local public health departments, CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NARMS helps protect public health by providing information about bacterial resistance, the ways in which resistance is spread, and how resistant infections differ from other infections. Understanding trends in antibiotic resistance helps doctors to prescribe effective treatment and public health officials to investigate practices that could contribute to resistance.