WHO says extremely contagious drug-resistant bacterium has spread

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is concerned about the emergence of new dangerous strains of an incredibly contagious superbacterium, hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp). It has been found in 16 countries, including the United States, writes LiveScience.

Medics point out that strains of the bacterium are resistant to antibiotics, and the speed of its spread may pose a threat on a global scale.

Of particular concern is strain ST23, resistant to carbapenems and all available beta-lactam antibiotics - noted in the WHO.

It is noted that K. pneumoniae is often found in the environment. In the human body, it lives in the upper throat and gastrointestinal tract.

The classical variant of the bacterium poses a danger to people with weak immune systems, while new infectious strains are capable of causing severe diseases in healthy people," the report points out.

Medics emphasise that complications provoked by the bacterium can be fatal.

It is indicated that hvKp strains were discovered relatively recently in Asia. At that time, they were easily treatable, but having spread around the world, acquired resistance to antibiotics.

WHO calls for more careful monitoring of the situation with the spread of bacterial strains and responsible attitude to the prescription and use of antibiotics.

Antibiotic-resistant infections are responsible for more than 35,000 deaths annually in the United States alone, and the number of bacteria developing defences to drugs is only growing.

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