Europe faces new drug-resistant superbugs

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned of a significant increase in multi-antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) infections in the region, which could increase morbidity and mortality caused by this bacterium.

According to the ECDC report, from 2021 to now, the number of countries in the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) recording cases of hvKp infection of genotype 23 has increased from 4 to 10. The number of reported infections has also skyrocketed 12-fold, up to 143 cases.

In particular, this strain of bacteria increasingly possesses genes resistant to carbapenems, the last group of antibiotics used to treat serious infections. According to the ECDC, people infected with this bacteria can lead to many dangerous complications such as metastatic liver abscesses, pneumonia and lung abscesses.

The ECDC report specifically emphasizes that in addition to vulnerable groups, healthy adults also need to pay special attention when these infections occur but cannot be treated.

ECDC warns of high risk of bacteria spreading in hospital environments despite preventive measures.

In this context, ECDC recommends strengthening infection prevention and control measures in health-care facilities, and establishing robust testing capacity to detect hvKp infections, including whole-genome sequencing.

According to VNA

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