How to Make a Superbug, and an Even More Super-Collider!

TL;DR

A drug-resistant bacterium called CRE has caused infections at a hospital in Los Angeles, highlighting the evolving threat of superbugs.

Transcript

Southern California has had it rough lately. A couple of weeks ago, we told you about the measles outbreak that started there, and now Los Angeles seems to have spawned a whole new kind of outbreak. A superbug. Or, at least, that’s what the media have been calling it -- a bacterium that’s killed two people and infected seven at the Ronald Reagan Me... Read More

Key Insights

• 👪 Enterobacteriaceae, the bacterium family to which CRE belongs, can cause infections outside the gut when they spread to other bodily tissues.
• 😘 Over the past 50 years, some strains of enterobacteriaceae have evolved to become resistant to lower classes of antibiotics.
• 🍳 The strain of CRE in Los Angeles has the ability to produce an enzyme that breaks down carbapenem, rendering it ineffective.
• 🪡 Healthcare facilities need to improve sterilization techniques to prevent the spread of drug-resistant bacteria.
• 😁 The Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland is set to reopen in March with more powerful energy beams.
• 🧑‍🔬 Scientists aim to study the properties of the Higgs boson and its interactions with other particles to gain a better understanding of dark matter.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the "superbug" causing the outbreak in Los Angeles?

The "superbug" is a strain of the bacterium called CRE, which has evolved to become resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics.

Q: How did patients get infected with CRE at the hospital?

The bacteria were transmitted through contaminated endoscopes used during procedures, leading to the spread of the resistant strain to other patients.

Q: What is the mortality rate associated with CRE infections?

These infections can have up to a 50 percent mortality rate, making it a serious concern for healthcare facilities and patients.

Q: How common are CRE infections linked to endoscopies?

While these infections are still rare, with only 134 cases linked to endoscopies in 2013, they emphasize the need for improved sterilization methods to prevent the spread of drug-resistant bacteria.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A drug-resistant bacterium called CRE has infected patients at the Ronald Reagan Medical Center, causing serious infections with a high mortality rate.

• This strain of bacteria is resistant to powerful antibiotics, including the ones commonly used to treat drug-resistant bugs.

• The infections were linked to contaminated endoscopes used during procedures, emphasizing the need for improved sterilization techniques.