Antibiotic Resistance
April 18, 2025
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Launch the media gallery 1 playerAntibiotics can save lives, but they're not always the answer.
Learn to use antibiotics appropriately so you can get the best treatment when you're sick, protect yourself from side effects caused by unnecessary antibiotic use and combat antimicrobial resistance.
Antibiotic Resistance
Antibiotic‑resistant (“superbug”) infections already kill an estimated 1.27 million people worldwide every year and add costly hospital days in Nebraska. Overuse and misuse of antibiotics in humans, animals, and the environment allow bacteria to evolve defenses faster than new drugs are developed. Fortunately, smart prescribing, safer food handling, vaccination, and simple hygiene steps can slow that trend and keep today’s antibiotics working when we truly need them. Source: World Health Organization (WHO), CDC
What the Public Should Know
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Rising threat – Six hospital‑onset resistant infections (e.g., MRSA, ESBL‑producing E. coli) rose 20% nationally during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Source: CDC
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Local picture – Nebraska hospitals now submit antibiotic use & resistance (AUR) data to CDC’s NHSN; SHDHD receives quarterly summaries showing carbapenem‑resistant Enterobacterales and drug‑resistant Pseudomonas as top concerns. Source: Nebraska DHHS, southheartlandhealth.ne.gov
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One Health link – Studies by UNL and USDA trace resistant germs between livestock, soil, and waterways, underscoring the need for farm‑to‑table prevention. Source: Food Science at Nebraska
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Sepsis danger – Any infection (resistant or not) can trigger sepsis; rapid treatment saves lives. Source: CDC
How to Stay Updated
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Check SHDHD’s quarterly “Superbug Snapshot” – infographic posted on this page and emailed to subscribers. Coming soon!
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Follow CDC’s Antibiotic Resistance Tracker – national map updated monthly. Source: CDC
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Watch Nebraska DHHS AUR dashboard – statewide facility data refreshes each quarter. Source: Nebraska DHHS
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Sign up for FDA/USDA food‑recall alerts – some recalls involve resistant Salmonella or Campylobacter. Source: Food Safety and Inspection Service
What You Can Do
| Audience | Key Action | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Patients & Families | Take antibiotics only when prescribed and finish the course | Prevents leftover bacteria from rebounding more resistant Source: Nebraska Medicine |
| Get recommended vaccines (flu, COVID‑19, pneumococcal, shingles) | Fewer infections → fewer antibiotic prescriptions Source: CDC | |
| Healthcare Providers | Follow CDC Core Elements of Outpatient Stewardship | Proven framework to cut inappropriate scripts by ≥15% Source: CDC |
| Farmers & Veterinarians | Use antimicrobials under veterinary oversight only when medically necessary | Reduces resistant bugs entering the food chain Source: Food Science at Nebraska |
| Everyone | Wash hands, cook meat to safe temps, avoid raw milk | Breaks common transmission routes for resistant bacteriaSource: Food Safety and Inspection Service |
SHDHD Resources
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Antibiotic Resistance Toolkit – printable fact sheets, clinician decision aids, veterinary posters. - Coming soon!
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Ask‑a‑Pharmacist Hotline – Tam Pauley, Drug Overdose Prevention Program, 402‑462‑6211.
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Community Presentations – request a 20‑minute “Superbugs 101” talk for schools, civic groups, or workplaces. Email: tam.pauley@shdhd.ne.gov or devi.dwarabandam@shdhd.ne.gov
References
- CDC Antibiotic Resistance Threats Update 2023 CDC;
- CDC AUR Module overview Nebraska DHHS;
- SHDHD Antibiotic Resistance page southheartlandhealth.ne.gov;
- WHO AMR Fact Sheet 2024 World Health Organization (WHO);
- UNL One Health AMR study 2024 Food Science at Nebraska;
- CDC Get Ahead of Sepsis campaign CDC;
- CDC Core Elements Outpatient Stewardship 2024 CDC;
- USDA/FDA Food‑Safety Recalls Food Safety and Inspection Service;
- Nebraska Medicine “7 Tips for Safe Antibiotic Use” Nebraska Medicine;
- Financial Times TB‑AMR feature 2024