Monday 30 May 2016

The 'nightmare' superbug that doctors have been dreading just reached the US

"For the first time, researchers have found a person in the United States carrying bacteria resistant to antibiotics of last resort, an alarming development that the top US public health official says could mean "the end of the road" for antibiotics.

The antibiotic-resistant strain was found last month in the urine of a 49-year-old Pennsylvania woman...

In some instances, these superbugs kill up to 50 percent of patients who become infected.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention has called CRE among the country's most urgent public health threats.

It's the first time this colistin-resistant strain has been found in a person in the United States.

In November, public health officials worldwide reacted with alarm when Chinese and British researchers reported finding the colistin-resistant strain in pigs, raw pork meat and in a small number of people in China.

The deadly strain was later discovered in Europe and elsewhere...

Already, doctors had been forced to rely on colistin as a last-line defense against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The drug is hardly ideal. It is more than half a century old and can seriously damage a patient's kidneys.

And yet, because doctors have run out of weapons to fight a growing number of infections that evade more modern antibiotics, it has become a critical tool in fighting off some of the most tenacious infections.

Bacteria develop antibiotic resistance in two ways.

Many acquire mutations in their own genomes that allow them to withstand antibiotics, although that ability can't be shared with pathogens outside their own family...

"It basically shows us that the end of the road isn't very far away for antibiotics - that we may be in a situation where we have patients in our intensive-care units, or patients getting urinary tract infections for which we do not have antibiotics," CDC Director Tom Frieden said.

"I've been there for TB patients. I've cared for patients for whom there are no drugs left. It is a feeling of such horror and helplessness," Frieden added. "This is not where we need to be."

CDC officials are working with Pennsylvania health authorities to interview the patient and family to identify how she may have contracted the bacteria, including reviewing recent hospitalisations and other health-care exposures.

Late last year, as part of a broader budget deal, Congress agreed to give hundreds of millions of dollars to the federal agencies engaged in the battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The largest chunk of that money, more than $US150 million, was slated to go to the CDC as part of an effort to build and strengthen capacity at state and local health departments to prevent and monitor superbug outbreaks.

Other funding went to the National Institutes of Health for research on combating antimicrobial resistance, as well as to an agency known as BARDA, which works on national preparedness for chemical and biological threats, including developing new therapies."

28 comments:

  1. Explain in your own words, why the threat of a 'superbug' is so serious to the human race. Use three pieces of evidence from the article to strengthen your explanation.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A threat of the "super-bug" to the human race is becoming a serious problem to the human race because...
      1. "Super-bugs" are resistant to antibiotics, which means doctors can't help them unless they use drugs that could effect their kidneys.
      2 It could spread easily. If they travel, go out in public, etc. no-one would know that they were infected which means that "super-bug" everyone they meet, stand next to etc. could possibly get infected.
      3 Without drugs/medicines that can cure it.No-one can stop these "super-bugs" from effecting everyone on earth which in long-term could potentially wipe-out the entire human race.

      Delete
  2. What makes superbugs different from regular illnesses?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. superbugs and bugs are diffrent because superbugs has and super in it and bugs dose not

      Delete
    2. Because it is an antibiotic resistent infection so you can only use coliston but it is not the best because it is old and bad for your kidneys. Sophia G

      Delete
    3. They are still yet to find a cure for it.

      Delete
    4. Great use of evidence from the article in your response Sophia, well done. I am sure you could add some more detail next time Gabby.

      Delete
  3. Explain in your own words why you think $150 million USD is a good amount of money to spend on this problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Since it is a lot of money they may be able to find a cure for the illness.
      - Izzy and Amy

      Delete
    2. Because then you can solve the bug and stop it for good and then others won't be infected.By spending $150 million USD it will save everybody's lives.

      Delete
    3. Since it is a lot of money they may be able to find a cure for the illness.
      - Izzy and Amy

      Delete
    4. $150 million USD is a lot money.Even if we cant stop it its worth a try.

      Delete
    5. Good point Harry, spending the money doesn't guarantee a positive outcome, but it may still be worth trying.

      Delete
  4. If you knew you had one person who had a superbug in your family, what would you do? Think about safety, containment, contact between people, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. i would run away from them, or kick them out

      Delete
    2. I would head off to a friends house whosv family doesnt have it (just for safety reasons)if i dont have it and i would keep far away from the person who has it so it doesnt spread through me

      Delete
    3. Get then immediate health care.

      Delete
    4. I would put them into containment(for safety) and then get the house cleaned and put inside a big bubble like thing so no one else gets the bug.

      Delete
    5. Stay with a retaliative/friend, make sure the person who's effected gets health care, and throw out contaminated items.

      Delete
    6. Good to see some thoughtful answers, considering risks of contagion and contaminated items. Ka pai.

      Delete
  5. If a superbug cannot be cured with antibiotics, what could happen as a result of this? Describe two potential consequences.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The bug could kill 50% of the people with it & you would get really sick and you wouldn't fell good and you would be in pain.

      Delete
    2. lots more people would die because theres no antibiotics. The population would go done a lot because so many people were dying. Sophia G

      Delete
  6. What does it mean by 'the end of the road for antibiotics'? What language feature is being used here?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Identify and describe two habits of mind being used by people in this article.

    ReplyDelete
  8. The difference between 'superbug' and a common illness, is the fact that 'superbug' is antibiotic-resistant, therefore it can't be treated successfully with antibiotics

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This is a very clear explanation Bella, well done. Next time, click 'reply' rather than comment, so it appears with the question you're responding to.

      Delete
  9. If I found out that a member of my family is carrying the 'superbug', I would check the symptoms, and things you can do to stay safe.

    ReplyDelete