Earlier this year, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR or AR) communications toolkit as a part of its efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance in 2026. The toolkit is intended to help CDC’s partners communicate key talking points about AMR to the general public–and to healthcare professionals.

A decade of antimicrobial stewardship initiatives at CDC

This year marks 10 years since the agency established its AR Solutions Initiative to help track, contain, and prevent the spread of drug-resistant infections in the U.S. 2026 is also the year CDC plans to publish an updated AR Threats Report, the last edition of which was released in 2019. These reports include data around C. diff infections which, while not yet observed to be drug-resistant themselves, are highly linked to antibiotic use and of “urgent” concern to CDC. We hope this report will give us a new understanding of the impact of C. diff across the country.

In addition to these updates, CDC has also reissued guidance on outpatient antibiotic stewardship, including recommendations for specific areas of patient care like dentistry and telehealth. The use of antibiotics in dental care is of particular concern to C. diff advocates due to the high rates of antibiotic prescribing among dentists.

American Dental Association answers the call for new solutions

Coinciding with CDC’s releases, the American Dental Association (ADA) released a clinical practice statement on antibiotic stewardship in dentistry earlier this month, on August 7. The statement identifies data that, while medical clinicians have reduced the amount of antibiotics they prescribe, dentists have not–and account for over 10% of all outpatient antibiotic prescriptions. These prescriptions commonly include clindamycin, an antibiotic known for its “exceptionally high risk” of leading to a C. diff infection in patients who take the drug.

ADA’s statement–highlighting when antibiotics are needed and, more importantly, when they should be avoided–is a component of renewed efforts by the organization to address areas for improvement in dental antibiotic practices. Further, ADA has announced the publication of ‘living guidelines’ to focus on specific clinical questions around antibiotics in implant and extraction procedures. The first recommendation on antibiotic prophylaxis (antibiotics used to prevent a possible infection) in dental implants is expected this winter.

PLF is grateful for the ongoing efforts by both CDC and ADA to improve antibiotic stewardship, particularly in areas that have historically been under-recognized contributors to the C. diff epidemic. We look forward to the implementation of these recommendations as we continue our fight to end the harm caused by C. diff infections.