Antimicrobial Resistance Lab Network
Antimicrobial Resistance Lab Network
In 2016, CDC established the Antimicrobial Resistance Laboratory Network (AR Lab Network) in every state and in many large cities and U.S. territories. The AR Lab Network provides local experts access to gold-standard public health lab testing—for organisms found in healthcare, food, and the community—to help combat the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
In healthcare settings, AR Lab Network testing helps identify and protect patients from some of the most dangerous antibiotic-resistant germs. This includes germs that carry some types of resistance genes. When bacteria carry carbapenemase genes—genetic elements that make enzymes that break down carbapenems (strong antibiotics)—they can cause serious infections with limited treatment options. Knowing when these germs and genes are in their facilities can help healthcare providers take action to keep the threat contained. The AR Lab Network gives experts the data they need to launch into action and stop these dangerous infections at just one case.
Note: The AR Lab Network was not designed to be a traditional surveillance system. Isolates tested are a convenience sample and include clinical, surveillance, and outbreak specimens. Within each state, isolate submissions and testing are determined by state priorities and reporting regulations.
Comparing carbapenemase gene detection across high-priority organisms
The AR Lab Network performs carbapenemase gene testing on three priority healthcare pathogens, plus colonization screening for five targeted carbapenemase genes. The data below capture how frequently a carbapenemase gene was detected in these pathogens and screens. To learn more about each of the four priority areas dedicated to healthcare-associated infections in the AR Lab Network, visit the AR Lab Network data profile associated with each priority area visualization below.
Explore ARLN data set further with the Data Explorer.
Explore C. auris data collected through the AR Lab Network.
AR Lab Network data are presented in both aggregated and year-to-year formats. The AR Lab Network is not a traditional surveillance system; changes in year-to-year carbapenemase rates may also be reflective of year-to-year changes in testing priorities, methods, or volume, jurisdictional reporting criteria, and other factors. Year classification is defined by specimen collection date.
Suggested Citation: CDC. Antimicrobial Resistance & Patient Safety Portal (AR&PSP) AR Lab Network Data. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC. https://arpsp.cdc.gov/.