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NATIONAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE MONITORING SYSTEM (NARMS)
Description:
The main activity of NARMS is to monitor antimicrobial resistance of human enteric bacteria, including Campylobacter, Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157, and Shigella. NARMS is an active surveillance system that collects every 10th non-typhi Salmonella and Shigella isolate, every 5th E. coli isolate, and every Salmonella Typhi, Listeria, and Vibrio from 28 public health laboratories. At CDC, Salmonella, Shigella, and E. coli isolates are tested for resistance to 17 antimicrobials. In addition, 9 sites collect Campylobacter isolates, which are tested for resistance to 8 antimicrobials. Resistance is measured by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Changes in MICs are compared over time to determine the level of antimicrobial resistance among these organisms in the United States.