antibiotic resistance

Antibiotics are one of the world’s greatest scientific advancements, helping to fight bacterial infection and save millions of lives every year. Ensuring their continued effectiveness is critical for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and our partners.

At USDA we use a feedback loop of 1) surveillance and monitoring 2) research, and 3) education and outreach to find science-based answers to challenging questions such as those posed by AR.

The next time you stroll outside after the rain, thank the soil bacteria below for the sweet, earthy smell that fills the air.