Experts warn: we are facing a pandemic of incurable infections. British doctors recently discovered as many as 19 new bacteria that do not respond to any drugs.
Experts from Public Health England, an executive agency of the UK Ministry of Health, presented a report showing that as many as 10 new genetic mechanisms of antibiotic resistance have been discovered in the last 19 years. Scientists and doctors have no doubts – mutant germs are a threat that needs to be dealt with urgently. If nothing is done about it, we are in for a pandemic of infections that cannot be treated. The threat is serious – according to data presented by British experts, if no action is taken, new bacterial strains could kill up to 10 million people a year.
“Superbacteria” have been found in samples taken from over a thousand patients. The so-called last resort antibiotics such as carbapenems and colistin. These are drugs that have so far been used in the case of infection with extremely resistant germs. Among the new “superbugs” are, among others new forms of staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), gonorrhea, enterococci. They cause serious urinary and digestive infections, kidney and intestinal problems, and sexually transmitted diseases.
Also read: The most dangerous bacteria in the world! They are resistant to antibiotics and kill millions of people
To save patients’ lives, doctors were forced to use experimental drugs, various combinations of old antibiotics, or very high doses of drugs. The bacteria did not respond to conventional antibiotics.
Dr Susan Hopkins, an infectious disease specialist, said: “In the worst-case scenario, we won’t be able to treat patients. The expert warns that we are getting closer to a situation where doctors will not be able to cope with even popular diseases.
How can I fix it? The only solution seems to be to limit the use of antibiotics. Unfortunately, they have often been prescribed for viral infections, such as the flu or colds, and only work against bacterial infections. The pointless abuse of these drugs has resulted in the bacteria becoming resistant to most of the known active substances.
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