Acute Communicable Disease Control

County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Acute Communicable Disease Control
313 N. Figueroa Street, #212
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 240-7941
Fax: (213) 482-4856
Email:acdc2@ph.lacounty.gov

Have questions about things like where to go for vaccinations or other health care services?

Call 2-1-1.

Note: PDF documents on this site were created using Adobe Acrobat 5.0 or later. If you are using an earlier version of Adobe Acrobat Reader (4.x or less), document functionality may be reduced.

Antimicrobial/Antibiotic Resistance 

Antimicrobial resistance occurs when microorganisms gain the ability to withstand the effects of drug treatments such as antibiotics, which are used to treat bacterial infections. When this happens, healthcare providers are challenged to find other treatments to cure the infection.  

When bacteria become resistant to multiple antibiotics, they are referred to as multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) and often have very limited treatment options, if any. These MDROs, or “superbugs”, are spreading worldwide and are a serious risk to public health. One of the deadliest suberbugs, carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, poses a threat to all LA County Healthcare Facilities.

Two of the biggest reasons for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance are the overuse and misuse of antibiotics. As a result, it is important to only use antibiotics when they are absolutely necessary to make sure that they can still be used for treatments in the future.

Everyone has a role in preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance in our communities. Check out the additional resources below to learn more about antimicrobial resistance and what you can do to help.

See also:

• Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE)
• Novel Multi-drug Resistant Organisms (NMDROs)
• Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms (CPO)
• LAC DPH Candida auris webpage

Updates

• CDC Health Advisory: Outbreak of Extensively Drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Associated with Artificial Tears (2-2-23)
• CAHAN: Regional Outbreak of Highly Drug-resistant Carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii (May 2021)
• CDPH Health Advisory: Ongoing Risk of Highly Drug-Resistant Infections in Patients Following Hospitalization or Invasive Procedures in Mexico (2-16-20)
• Detection of Ciprofloxacin-resistant, ß-lactamase-producing Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup Y Isolates, United States, 2019–2020 (6-23-20)
• Health Officer Order: Additional Reportable Diseases and Conditions (12-3-2019)

New Resources

• LAC DPH Novel Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (N-MDRO) Candida auris Newsletter
• LAC DPH C.auris Frequently Asked Questions to Aid Clinical Laboratorians at the Bench
• LAC DPH C.auris Action Plan Checklist
• Los Angeles County Healthcare-Associated Infections 2016 Regional Summary Report
• Los Angeles County Regional Antibiogram: A New Tool for Antibiotic Stewardship -- Rx for Prevention, March 15, 2018
• CDC Interim Guidance for a Health Response to Contain Novel or Targeted Multidrug-resistant Organisms (MDROs)
• NQF Antibiotic Stewardship Playbook
• IDSA/SHEA Guidelines for Implementing an Antibiotic Stewardship Program

Additional Resources

• CDC: Emerging Drug Resistance
• CDC: Antibiotic Resistance Questions and Answers
• CDC: Resources for Patients and their Families
• CDC: Resources for Healthcare Partners

 

Resources

Reassess Antibiotics at 48 Hours: Poster (Single-sided, English 15”x24”) This poster reminds clinicians to perform a review of antibiotics 48 hours after antibiotics are initiated, and to ask themselves some key questions. At this time, staff should reassess the continuing need and choice of antibiotics, using clinical and laboratory data (including culture results and local antibiograms) as they become available.                              Order Form
Treat True Infections, Not Colonization: Poster (Single-sided, English 15”x24”) This poster serves as a reminder for clinicians to accurately interpret culture results. Clinical criteria and additional laboratory data can help distinguish infection from colonization.                            Order Form
Antibiotics Aren’t Always the Answer: Poster (Double-sided English/Spanish 15”x24”) This poster aims to help healthcare providers remember when antibiotics aren’t necessary, and to provide them with a reference to help explain to patients why they do not need an antibiotic prescription.                          Order Form

More coming soon!