The evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a significant threat to global health. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the rise of superbugs. Superbugs are types of bacteria that can resist many medicines designed to kill them.
Can superbugs kill you?
The World Health Organization (WHO) says these resistant germs caused about 1.27 million deaths worldwide in 2019. Understanding the features and impacts of these superbugs is critical to safeguarding public health.
Rise of Superbug Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB)
One notable superbug is carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB). This superbug mainly affects people with weak immune systems. It is commonly found in hospitals. CRAB has a horrifying mortality rate of approximately 47%. The spread of resistance genes makes treatment efforts difficult. These genes are carried by mobile genetic elements, which can travel between different organisms. Because of this, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies it as a critical public health concern.
Superbug Enterobacteriaceae species
Equally alarming are Enterobacteriaceae species that resist third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems. The gut frequently harbors these bacteria, with Escherichia coli serving as a prominent example. Because of their ability to avoid treatment, antibiotics are less effective. These antibiotics used to work well. Now, they are almost useless. This causes many hospital patients to die.
“It’s worrying that similar types of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resist rifampicin. Rifampicin serves as a significant treatment for tuberculosis. About 410,000 new cases of resistant tuberculosis happen every year.”
Rifampicin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis exemplifies another troubling aspect of antibiotic resistance. A bacterium causes tuberculosis (TB). This disease kills over a million people each year. It largely affects poor populations. These people often have limited access to healthcare services. Treating rifampicin-resistant TB often involves complex regimens lasting longer than standard treatments.
Fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella enterica Typhoid
Fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella enterica Typhoid is becoming a problem. This makes treating typhoid fever harder. We are seeing more cases of resistance. There are fewer effective treatments available. So, we need to focus on preventing the disease. Vaccination helps stop people from getting sick. Improved sanitation is about keeping areas clean. This prevents the spread of illness. Both steps are very important.
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is getting worse in many germs. Some of these germs are Shigella, Enterococcus faecium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This makes finding new medicines to fight infections very urgent. Developing innovative solutions through research and active surveillance is essential for controlling these formidable superbugs.
Closing Remarks
For young people who want to learn about science and technology, ENTECH magazine is a fantastic resource. The magazine shows how science and technology help solve big global problems. It includes interesting articles on new issues, like antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance happens when bacteria change and medicines no longer work against them. That makes infections harder to treat. Our magazine helps readers find what interests them in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). It also encourages them to explore important topics affecting people today. You can visit our website at https://entechonline.com/ for more articles and resources. These designs aim to inspire. They target the next generation of problem-solvers. These are young people who want to address real-world problems.
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