A startling rise in infections caused by drug-resistant 'nightmare bacteria' is sounding alarm bells across the United States. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, reveals a nearly 70% increase in infection rates between 2019 and 2023. The primary culprit? Bacteria carrying the NDM gene, which renders them resistant to most antibiotics.
The situation is critical. Only two expensive, intravenously administered antibiotics are effective against these infections. While previously considered rare, primarily affecting individuals who received medical care overseas, the rate of NDM cases in the U.S. has exploded, increasing more than fivefold in recent years. This alarming trend has prompted experts like Emory University infectious diseases researcher David Weiss to express grave concern, calling the rise of NDM-carrying bacteria "a grave danger and very worrisome."
The CDC report highlights a concerning possibility: widespread, undetected carriage of these drug-resistant bacteria within the community. This could lead to a significant increase in infections previously considered easily treatable, such as urinary tract infections, transforming them into chronic and persistent health problems, according to Dr. Maroya Walters, one of the report's authors.
The misuse and overuse of antibiotics are major contributing factors to this crisis. Unfinished prescriptions and unnecessary antibiotic use have allowed bacteria to evolve and develop resistance mechanisms. The CDC has long warned about the threat of 'nightmare bacteria,' resistant to even last-resort antibiotics like carbapenems. This latest report underscores the urgent need for responsible antibiotic stewardship and improved infection control practices.
Data analyzed from 29 states revealed 4,341 cases of carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections in 2023, with 1,831 attributed to the NDM gene. While the exact number of fatalities remains unreported, the rate of carbapenem-resistant infections surged from nearly 2 per 100,000 people in 2019 to over 3 per 100,000 in 2023. More alarmingly, the rate of NDM cases soared by an astounding 460%.
Experts, such as Dr. Jason Burnham of Washington University, suggest a link between the COVID-19 pandemic and this surge, pointing to a significant increase in antibiotic use during that period. However, the CDC acknowledges that its data represents a partial picture, as many states lack comprehensive testing and reporting capabilities, leading to an underestimation of the actual infection numbers, particularly in populous states like California, Florida, New York, and Texas.
This underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for improved surveillance, responsible antibiotic use, and further research to combat this growing threat to public health. The rise of 'nightmare bacteria' demands immediate attention and a concerted effort to prevent this crisis from escalating further.
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Originally published at: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/nightmare-bacteria-cases-are-increasing-us-rcna233398
