Antibiotic Resistant Superbugs

The idea of a “superbug” can be very frightening. So-called superbugs sound as if they are somehow stronger and more powerful than regular bacteria or fungi. That’s not exactly the case. They are not often extra virulent—but they have, over time, developed a resistance to the antibiotics or antifungals that were designed to fight them.

Antibiotic-resistant superbugs are a serious threat. The CDC estimates that each year, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi cause 2.8 million infections in the US, and more than 35,000 people die as a result.1

In the report, Antibiotic Resistant Threats in the United States (2019), the CDC compiled information about pathogens it considers urgent, serious, or concerning. Here are some of the dangerous superbugs the CDC and the healthcare industry are most worried about. 1