Question

Explain why infection with carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria is called a “nightmare scenario.”

Answer 1

Carbapenems are a class of antibiotics that are used as a last resort of drugs when all other antibiotics have failed. It is used in treating infections from bacteria like  salmonella, shigella, E.coli and klebsiellae. This could be an indication that none of the antibiotics could protect us from the disease and hence infection with carbapenem resistant gram-negative bacteria is called , " Nightmare scenario. "

Carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is capable of infecting the human body because of it's high motility.

Nearly half of the people found with CREs blood stream infections have died. Among the susceptible age group such as children, old age group , people with organ transplant have been victims of CREs infection which was related to hospital borne infections . This, which started as nasocomial infections have extended to the community setting as well which indicates it is spreading.

In the year 2013, the CDC( Centers for Disease Control) classified CREs as an urgent threat to human health in U.S. and labelled CREs as "nightmare bacteria. "

Thank you.