Antibiotic Resistant ‘ Nightmare Bacteria ’ Spreading In U.S., CDC Warns

CBS Local — In recent years, antibiotic resistance has risen to dangerous levels and has become a growing public health crisis. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 2 million Americans become infected with germs resistant to antibiotics each year and more than 23,000 die from these infections. Now, a new government study finds more grim news. Researchers report that nationwide testing uncovered 221 instances of unusual resistance in the so-called “nightmare bacteria” — carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) — and other dangerous germs. Infections of this kind are “virtually untreatable with modern medicine,” CDC Principal Deputy Director Dr. Anne Schuchat said in a press briefing on April 3. The CDC defines “unusual resistance” as germs that cannot be killed by all or most antibiotics; are currently uncommon in the U.S.; or have specific genes that allow them to spread their resistance to other germs. Preventing these bugs from spreading is essential to controlling the antibiotic resistance crisis, the CDC says. For the study, researchers tested more than 5,700 samples from across the country over the course of nine months. The researchers found 221 cases of unusual resistance in “nightmare bacteria” in 27 states. Once antibiotic resistance takes hold, it can spread like wildfire, making it extremely difficult to control, the CDC warns. Antibiotic resistance can spread fro...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Health News Antibiotics Bacteria CDC Chris Melore Local TV talkers Source Type: news