A newly released CDC-led report finds that infections from drug-resistant “nightmare bacteria” in the U.S. have climbed nearly 70% between 2019 and 2023, largely driven by strains carrying the NDM gene. These bacteria, once rare and primarily seen in overseas patients, are now appearing more frequently stateside—jumping more than fivefold in recent years.
NDM-positive infections are extremely hard to treat: currently only two potent antibiotics, both delivered intravenously, remain effective against them. The CDC counted 4,341 cases of carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections across 29 states in 2023, and 1,831 of those involved the NDM gene. Experts warn that the true number of cases is likely much higher—many hospitals lack testing capability, and data from large states such as California, New York, Florida, and Texas were not included in the report.
Epidemiologists caution that routine infections—like urinary tract or wound infections—could become more difficult to treat if these bacteria spread into community settings. They point to the overuse and misuse of antibiotics, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a contributing factor.
