A Nes Superbug On The Run (By: Huda Khokhar)
A new superbug called Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (C.R.E.) that is resistant to antibiotics has affected more than 4% of U.S. patients. CRE has hit more than 200 U.S. hospitals in just 6 months and has been found in New York, New Jersey, and United States.
The virus has been found in more than 70 species that are usually found in the human digestive system, but the virus getting to the wrong parts of the body such as the stomach can potentially kill a person. This kills half of patients who get the bug into their bloodstream.
This superbug is said to have started in developing countries where antibiotics are readily available — occurring first in India, China, Israel, and Greece. Protocols for people returning from countries such as Greece, India, and Israel have been put in place to make sure infected travellers do not transmit the disease.
British Columbia is on the lookout, as there have been a total of 30 reported cases since 2008. A recently reported case has been found in Montreal, but a three-pronged approach has been established to fend off these superbugs and make sure this outbreak is controlled.
The three steps are surveillance, screening, and prevention. The prevention part of this strategy ensures that patients diagnosed with CRE will be kept together in a room and anyone entering or leaving will be advised to wear gloves and gowns.
CRE is very dangerous as it can lead to a host of other diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, wound infections, and sepsis.
The outbreak’s main cause is the over prescribing of antibiotics which have created these super bugs in the first place.
British Columbia is on alert, and there is hope that a new cure will be found soon in order to prevent the potentially life-threatening effects of these deadly superbugs.