Hundreds of "nightmare bacteria" and other dangerous antibiotic resistant germs have been uncovered in nationwide testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dangerous antibiotic resistant germs have been found in every state across the country.

“CDC’s study found several dangerous pathogens, hiding in plain sight, that can cause infections that are difficult or impossible to treat," said Dr. Anne Schuchat, Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2017, nationwide testing uncovered 221 instances of unusual resistance in nightmare bacteria. "Essentially, we found nightmare bacteria in your backyard," says Schuchat. The CDC is working with states on a very aggressive containment strategy that includes rapid detection, quick patient containment, aggressive infection control and screening to discover, reduce and stop the transmission of the resistant germs.

“This is a very aggressive approach, but containment of new resistance germs is really important," Schuchat added. "Otherwise we could see these new nightmare bacteria become very common and essentially untreatable.”