CDC Telebriefing: New Vital Signs Report

With improved infection control, how many antibiotic-resistant related infections and deaths does CDC predict could be averted in 5 years?

Media Advisory

Embargoed Until: Tuesday, August 4, 2015, 3:30 PM EST
Contact: CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286

What

We’re at a tipping point: an increasing number of germs no longer respond to the drugs designed to kill them. The latest CDC Vital Signs report includes mathematical modeling showing that the spread of drug-resistant infections and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) will increase without immediate improvements in infection control and antibiotic prescribing. The same modeling also shows that improved infection control and antibiotic prescribing could save 37,000 lives over five years.

Who

Thomas Frieden, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Michael Bell, M.D., deputy director of CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)

John Jernigan, M.D., M.S., director of the Office of Prevention Research and Evaluation, DHQP, CDC

When

Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at 3:00 p.m. EST

Dial In

Media: 888-795-0855
Non-Media: 800-369-1605
International: 1-630-395-0331   
Passcode: CDC Media

* Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the press conference.

Important Instructions 
Please dial in 10 to 15 minutes before the start of the press conference. If you would like to ask a question during the call, press *1 on your touchtone phone. Press *2 to withdraw your question. You may queue up at any time. You will hear a tone to indicate your question is pending.

Transcript
A transcript of this media availability will be available following the briefing at CDC’s web site: www.cdc.gov/media.

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES