Nightmare bacteria

Why in news?

Infections caused by “nightmare bacteria” are rising rapidly in the United States, with cases increasing nearly 70% between 2019 and 2023, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

• The term “nightmare bacteria” is used to describe Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE).
• The CDC uses the term “nightmare bacteria” to describe pathogens that resist a wide range of antibiotics, including carbapenems, often considered drugs of last resort for severe infections.
• Bacteria carrying the NDM gene are particularly dangerous because they produce an enzyme that breaks down carbapenems, rendering them ineffective.
• Drug Resistance - Drug resistance develops when microbes adapt to survive medicines designed to kill them.
• Incomplete prescriptions, unnecessary use of antibiotics for non-bacterial illnesses, and widespread availability of drugs without proper oversight all contribute to the problem.
• Resistant bacteria not only survive but can also share their resistant genes with other microbes, making infections harder to treat.
• Symptoms -
  • Urinary tract infections (UTIs) - Frequent urination, pain or burning sensation, cloudy urine.
  • Bloodstream infections - High fever, rapid heartbeat, very low blood pressure.
  • Pneumonia (lung infection) - Persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath.
• Because these symptoms overlap with less dangerous infections, specialized testing is required to confirm resistance.
• Global threat - The problem of antibiotic resistance is not confined to the US. Experts stress that because bacteria spread easily between people, animals, and food chains, the threat is global.
• Vulnerability - Researchers note that countries with weaker health systems or looser restrictions on antibiotic sales are more vulnerable to rapid spread.
• Treatment - Only two intravenous antibiotics are currently effective against these strains, both of which are costly and difficult to administer.

Quick facts

Reference

Times of India | Nightmare Bacteria