• What Is the Most Resistant Bacteria?

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What Is the Most Resistant Bacteria?

Jan 21 2017

When it comes to infections, antibiotics are generally considered a ‘fix all’ cure. From burns and spider bites to pneumonia and UTIs, antibiotics are usually just what the doctor ordered. But now, a team of US doctors is questioning global reliance on antibiotics. After they failed to find an effective treatment for a 70-year old patient, questions are being raised over whether modern medicine is too dependent on antibacterials.  

The ‘superbug’ resistant to 26 antibiotics

Despite their best efforts, the doctors were unable to treat the woman. She was infected with a vicious bacterial strain that stood up against 26 antibiotic drugs, including all treatments available in the USA. After running multiple tests and treatments, the doctors concluded that the strain was “resistant to all available antimicrobial drugs.” As a result, the woman died from the infection and the doctors were left scratching their heads about why she was non-responsive to treatment.

Bacterial strain hopscotches from India to the USA

The case was later detailed in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, with authors musing that the infection originated in India. She returned from an extended trip with infected swelling in her right hip, and was admitted to a Nevada hospital. After running tests, doctors found she had contracted an infection known as Klebsiella pneumoniae, a form of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

While the strain usually lives in the gut without triggering any issues, the infection was able to enter the woman’s bones due to a small femur fracture. It subsequently spread to her hips, causing inflammation throughout her body, as well as putting enormous strain on her immune system. Eventually, her immune system collapsed, she succumbed to septic shock, and passed away.

Are superbugs a risk to global public health?

Ultimately, the case highlights the very real risk that highly resistant bacterial strains and other ‘superbugs’ pose to public health. While doctors don’t believe she contracted the infection in the US, they warn that such ‘superbugs’ are becoming increasingly common in third world countries. And thanks to the relative ease of modern travel, it’s now easier than ever for them to spread.

So, is more research into antibiotics what’s needed to fight the superbug threat? According to experts, not necessarily. Over the past few decades new discoveries have decreased, which has led many experts to predict that antibiotics could soon become obsolete.

As well as research, sterilisation also plays a pivotal role in the prevention of spreading diseases and infections. ‘Did We Sterilise’ spotlights the importance of ensuring reusable instruments and lab accessories are safe and contaminant free, with a focus on the sophisticated mechanics of autoclave chambers.


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