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Infection rates from drug-resistant "nightmare bacteria" have surged nearly 70% between 2019 and 2023, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The increase is primarily driven by bacteria carrying the NDM gene, which are challenging to treat. Only two antibiotics are effective against these infections, and both are costly and must be administered intravenously.
The bacteria, once considered exotic and linked to international travel, have seen a fivefold increase in U.S. cases in recent years. "The rise of NDMs in the U.S. is a grave danger and very worrisome," said David Weiss, an infectious diseases researcher at Emory University, in an email to the Associated Press. The CDC scientists noted that many individuals might unknowingly carry these drug-resistant bacteria, potentially leading to community spread.
Routine infections, such as urinary tract infections, could become harder to treat, as stated by Dr. Maroya Walters, one of the report's authors. Antimicrobial resistance, where germs become resistant to drugs meant to kill them, is exacerbated by the misuse of antibiotics, including unfinished or unnecessary prescriptions.
The CDC gathered data from 29 states that conduct testing and reporting of carbapenem-resistant bacteria. In 2023, these states reported 4,341 cases of carbapenem-resistant infections, with 1,831 involving the NDM gene. The rate of carbapenem-resistant infections rose from under 2 per 100,000 people in 2019 to over 3 per 100,000 in 2023, while NDM cases increased by 460%.
Dr. Jason Burnham, a researcher at Washington University, told the Associated Press that the COVID-19 pandemic's surge in antibiotic use likely contributed to the rise in drug resistance. However, the CDC's data does not include some populous states like California, Florida, New York, and Texas, indicating that the true number of infections is likely underestimated.