The CDC found four drug-resistant pathogens require urgent and aggressive action, according to its 2026 Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report.
The 2026 report, published Oct. 27, estimates the impact of 19 drug-resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens on human health in the U.S. They are categorized into three threat levels. Urgent threats require urgent and aggressive action. Serious threats require prompt and sustained action, and concerning threats require careful monitoring and prevention action, the report said. The CDC also included a watch list of pathogens being monitored because their full burden is not yet understood.
The CDC updated its methodologies and data sources to make the 2026 report the most comprehensive to date. As a result, direct comparisons to previous reports should not be made, the CDC said.
For this report, the CDC used seven factors to assess threats: clinical impact; economic impact; current number of new infections in the U.S.; projected change in the number of new infections in the next five years; transmissibility, preventability or the availability and effectiveness of prevention measures; and availability of effective antibiotics, antifungals and treatments. Read more about the methodology here.
The 19 urgent, serious and concerning threats result in an estimated 9.7 million infections and 50,800 deaths each year.
Several pathogens also shifted on the lists. Drug-resistant Neisseria meningitidis was added as a serious threat, and Clostridioides difficile moved from an urgent to a serious threat due in part to successful infection prevention actions, especially in healthcare settings. Three pathogens — drug-resistant dermatophytes, drug-resistant Haemophilus influenzae and nontuberculous mycobacteria — were added to the watch list.
Here is the full list of pathogen threats by category.
Urgent threats
- Candida auris
- Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter
- Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales
- Drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Serious threats
- Clostridioides difficile
- Drug-resistant Campylobacter
- Drug-resistant Candida
- Drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
- Drug-resistant Neisseria meningitidis
- Drug-resistant nontyphoidal Salmonella
- Drug-resistant Salmonella Typhi
- Drug-resistant Shigella
- Drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae
- Extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
- Multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus
Concerning threats
- Clindamycin-resistant group B Streptococcus
- Drug-resistant group A Streptococcus
Watch list
- Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus
- Drug-resistant Bordetella pertussis
- Drug-resistant dermatophytes
- Drug-resistant Haemophilus influenzae
- Drug-resistant Mycoplasma genitalium
- Nontuberculous mycobacteria
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
