Due　to　the　COVID-19　pandemic,　many　rapid　antimicrobial　agents　have　developed　intensively.　Carbon　dots　(CDs),　a　new　type　of　carbon-based　nanomaterials,　shows　great　potential　against　emerging　infectious　diseases　and　antimicrobial-resistant　infections　due　to　their　unique　optical　properties,　excellent　biocompatibility,　and　easy　surface　modification.　With　the　definition　of　the　CDs　structure　and　properties,　synthesis,　and　characteristic　technology　improvement,　the　research　on　the　CDs　as　antimicrobial　agents　has　made　significant　progress.　However,　the　lack　of　high　repeatable　and　exact　preparation　methods,　and　the　regular　antimicrobial　activity　make　it　far　from　practical　application.　In　this　review,　we　summarize　the　most　recent　progress　and　challenges　of　CDs　antimicrobial.　First,　an　overview　of　the　characteristics　and　properties　is　given,　and　the　advantage　of　CDs　applied　to　antimicrobial　is　further　discussed.　Then,　it　focuses　on　research　progress　on　antimicrobial　mechanisms　under　different　conditions,　the　critical　factors　affecting　their　antimicrobial　activity,　and　the　practical　antimicrobial　applications.　Finally,　the　main　challenges　and　future　research　perspectives　of　antimicrobial　CDs　are　proposed.