The United States is facing an alarming uptick in infection rates from drug-resistant "nightmare bacteria." According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there's been a nearly 70% rise in such infections from 2019 to 2023. The CDC's researchers have identified the NDM gene, which makes certain bacteria difficult to treat, as the primary driver of this increase. This gene's presence has resulted in a more than fivefold jump in U.S. cases in recent years, as reported by NBC Chicago.
In an attempt to curtail the spread, researchers noted that only two antibiotics can effectively combat infections harboring the NDM gene. These drugs are not only costly but also require administration through an IV. The situation is further exacerbated by the fact that many people might be unknowingly carrying these drug-resistant bacteria, potentially leading to wider community transmission. "The rise of NDMs in the U.S. is a grave danger and very worrisome," David Weiss, an infectious diseases researcher at Emory University, told NBC Chicago in an email.
Dr. Maroya Walters, a co-author of the CDC report, warned about the repercussions for routine medical treatments. Infections, like urinary tract infections, which were once considered easy to manage, could now turn into chronic issues. Misuse of antibiotics, with patients not completing courses or taking them unnecessarily, has been a significant contributor to the problem, a point emphasized in the data pulled from 29 states. According to the CDC's findings, there were 4,341 cases of carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections in 2023, of which 1,831 were of the NDM variety, as mentioned in an NBC News article.
The widespread use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic could have played a role in the surge of these drug-resistant infections. "We know that there was a huge surge in antibiotic use during the pandemic, so this likely is reflected in increasing drug resistance," explained Dr. Jason Burnham, a researcher at Washington University, in a statement obtained by NBC Chicago. However, the full extent of the crisis might not be completely known. Many states are not thoroughly testing for or reporting cases, and there's a lack of data from populous states like California, Florida, New York, and Texas. This suggests, as Burnham noted, that the absolute number of U.S. infections "is definitely underestimated."
Combatting this rise in "nightmare bacteria" remains a complex challenge, particularly as the medical community grapples with the need for precise testing and reporting. The CDC report echoes previous findings, marking a continued trend that has seen rates of NDM cases rise significantly since 2019. As highlighted by the CDC and reiterated by health experts, focusing on proper antibiotic use and enhancing infection control measures could be crucial steps to turn the tide against these formidable bacterial foes.
