Antibiotics, antivirals, and other antimicrobials have saved millions of lives worldwide, but these drugs are losing their effectiveness because of antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial resistance refers to microbes' natural ability to evolve genetically to counter the drugs. Some of this is inevitable, but over-prescription and improper use of antimicrobials plays a big role. Up to half of antibiotic use is unnecessary or inappropriate.
Drug-resistant infections can strike anyone—young or old, healthy or sick, as these real life patient stories show. Treating resistant infections costs the U.S. health care system an estimated $21 billion to $34 billion annually. IDSA is working on many fronts to counter these "bad bugs" and save lives.
IDSA Policy Priority: The 10 x '20 Initiative
Patients
- Faces of Antimicrobial Resistance Report
- Faces of Antimicrobial Resistance: The Human Cost of Antimicrobial Resistance
- IDSA Information Sheet on Antimicrobial Resistance (PDF)
- IDSA Antibiotic Incentives Infographic 2016
Professionals
- IDSA Shares New Drug Shortages Survey Data on Anti-Infective Drugs with Congressional Leaders (PDF)
- IDSA Urges Congress to Approve Antibiotic and Workforce Provisions in Cures Act (PDF)
- Antimicrobial Stewardship: Optimization of Antibiotic Practices
- Research Opportunities: AR Leadership Group
- Policy Statement on Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
- IDSA Practice Guidelines on MRSA
- IDSA/SHEA Practice Guidelines on Antimicrobial Stewardship
- IDSA/SHEA Practice Guidelines on Clostridium difficile
- Prevention of Healthcare-Associated Infections in Acute Care Hospitals
Public Policy
- PAHPA 2023 Recommendations on AMR and ID Workforce (House)
- PAHPA 2023 Recommendations on AMR and ID Workforce (Senate)
- IDSA Recommendations to United Nations on Antimicrobial Resistance
- Patient Stories
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Comments on Generating Antibiotic Incentives Provisions in Draft PDUFA Bill
- PCAST AR Comments
- Help Win Congress’s Support for New Antibiotics
- Facts about Antibiotic Resistance
Press
- IDSA Leads Health Groups in Letter to New Administration Urging Continuation of AMR Efforts
- IDSA Outlines ID Policy Issues for Trump Transition Team
- IDSA Letter to WHO on Prioritizing Antimicrobial Resistant Pathogens
- Statement from IDSA President Barbara Murray, MD, FIDSA, on PCAST Meeting
- IDSA, Pew Support Regulatory Pathway for Antibiotic Development
- IDSA Applauds President Obama, Calls for Action on State of the Union Pledge to Address Drug Resistance
- Green, Gingrey: Drug-Resistant Bacteria Presents Growing Health Threat
- Drug Makers Tiptoe Back Into Antibiotic R&D
- CDC Sounds Alarm on Deadly, Untreatable Superbugs
- Drug Companies, Health Groups Back IDSA Proposal
- Hospital Programs to Reduce Antibiotic Resistance Working: Studies
- New Measures, Legislation Aimed at Antibiotic Resistance: Infections Cost Millions, End Lives
- Doctors Make Case for More Drug Spending
- Media Advisory: Capitol Hill Briefing on Antibiotic Resistance Threats to the U.S.