Overview

• Published in Annals of Internal Medicine, the analysis of 29-state lab data found 4,341 carbapenem-resistant infections in 2023, including 1,831 involving NDM.
• NDM-related infection rates rose about 460% from 2019 to 2023, far outpacing the overall increase in carbapenem resistance.
• Gaps in testing and reporting, including missing data from California, Florida, New York, and Texas, indicate national totals are underestimated.
• Treatment for many NDM infections is restricted to two expensive antibiotics that must be delivered intravenously, adding clinical and logistical strain.
• Researchers warn of unrecognized carriers and potential community spread, and say pandemic-era antibiotic use likely contributed to the rise, reinforcing calls for stronger stewardship and infection control.