New York City Antibiogram
Antimicrobial resistance is an urgent public health threat, and antibiograms are critical tools for identifying and combating the spread of drug-resistant organisms. Antibiograms summarize data about resistance patterns for selected pathogens. Health care providers can use these data, along with their clinical expertise and patient information, to guide selection of initial therapy and reduce inappropriate prescriptions. Antibiograms are therefore an essential component of antimicrobial stewardship programs.
Hospitals and some other inpatient health care centers generate annual antibiograms for bacterial isolates from patients tested and treated at their sites. These facility-specific data can be combined to create regional antibiograms, valuable public health tools that illustrate and allow for monitoring of more widespread trends in antimicrobial resistance. Ambulatory clinics generally do not create their own antibiograms, though an estimated 80-90% of human antibiotic use in the U.S. occurs in the outpatient setting.
To address these gaps in New York City, the Health Department collaborates with a multidisciplinary group of external stakeholders to develop and publish aggregate borough and citywide antibiograms.
2021 New York City Regional Antibiogram
The latest New York City antibiogram summarizes the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing for the most commonly encountered bacterial pathogens. Data were combined for 24 health facilities and includes both inpatient and outpatient populations.
The antibiogram data can be viewed on the clinical decision support platform, Firstline. Firstline is available for mobile download for iOS or Android systems, or on the web. Select “NYC Health Department” when prompted to choose a location.
A PDF version of the antibiogram is available on request. If you would like more information or are interested in contributing to the New York City Antibiogram in the future, email ARprevention@health.nyc.gov.
2017 and 2018 Invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae Antibiogram
The second New York City antibiogram summarizes the results of antibiotic susceptibility testing for invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae infections diagnosed at 39 local laboratories and reported to the Health Department. Data from 2017 and 2018 were combined, and summary results are presented in aggregate and stratified by borough.
2016 and 2017 Outpatient Urinary Tract Infection Antibiogram
The first New York City antibiogram focuses on the six most common pathogens causing local outpatient urinary tract infections. The antibiotic susceptibility testing results were submitted voluntarily by clinical laboratories representing 17 ambulatory health care facilities. Data from 2016 and 2017 were combined.
- 2016 and 2017 Outpatient Urinary Tract Infections Citywide Antibiogram (PDF)
Borough-specific charts: Bronx | Brooklyn | Manhattan | Queens
Clinicians in outpatient settings can use this antibiogram to:
- Review data for the most common pathogens seen in outpatient urinary isolates citywide, by borough and by age group.
- Estimate the relative likelihood that cultured urinary tract infection pathogens will be susceptible to common outpatient antibiotics.
- Inform prescribing choices for uncomplicated urinary tract infections in the event of pending microbiology culture and susceptibility results, and made with respect to other clinical data.
If you would like more information or are interested in contributing to the New York City Antibiogram, email ARprevention@health.nyc.gov.