National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System: Three Decades of Advancing Public Health Through Integrated Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria and other microorganisms adapt in ways that make medicines less effective, causing infections that are harder to treat and more likely to spread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), AMR infections affect millions of Americans each year and contribute to thousands of deaths (CDC, 2019). After three decades of operation, the U.S. National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) stands as a model of sustained, collaborative public health surveillance. What began in 1996 as an effort to track resistance in Salmonella and E. coli O157 has evolved into a One Health surveillance network monitoring AMR across the farm-to-fork continuum. Through a partnership among CDC, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), state and local health departments, and universities, NARMS has become the backbone of foodborne AMR surveillance in the United States. The past decade has been particularly transformative. NARMS explored new sampling to include companion animals, minor livestock, aquaculture, surface water, and wildlife. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revolutionized the program's capabilities, enabling timely identification of emerging pathogens and revealing how resistance genes spread. Near real-time public dashboards make NARMS data accessible to researchers, clinicians, regulators, and policymakers. NARMS data shape decisions about new animal drug approvals, guide stewardship programs, and inform clinical treatment guidelines nationwide. As NARMS enters its fourth decade with a 2026-2030 strategic plan, the program will leverage artificial intelligence and metagenomics while expanding surveillance to fill remaining gaps ensuring this vital system continues to protect the food supply and both human and animal health from AMR.