DANGEROUS new strains of a superbug have been found in 16 countries, warns a report from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) has been detected in Africa, Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Western Pacific, America and Southeast Asia.
It is a type of drug-resistant bacteria that can cause serious and potentially fatal infections.
“Classic” Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) causes major problems in hospitals, where it can contaminate medical equipment, spread quickly and be resistant to many antibiotics.
It is known to cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bloodstream infections and meningitis – inflammation of the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord – especially among vulnerable patients.
But experts say the new “hypervirulent” version is even more dangerous, as it can make even healthy people seriously ill.
“It can cause serious invasive infections in healthy individuals that develop rapidly and spread to multiple sites in the body,” said the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) he said.
“Infections caused by hvKp strains have been associated with high morbidity and mortality.”
O WHO report analyzed data from 43 countries and territories around the world, of which 16 reported hvKp. This included:
Twelve of them (starred) said they found a particularly concerning strain called sequence type (ST)23.
This carries carbapenemase genes that are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics and all available beta-lactam antibiotics.
The combination of hypervirulence and carbapenem resistance genes in Kp strains is “concerning,” according to CIDRAP.
Amesh Adalja, a senior researcher at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, said: “In general, carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria are a major concern as the ability to treat them is severely limited.
“When you combine carbapenem resistance with the hypervirulence exhibited by certain strains of Kp, it’s a recipe for increased morbidity and mortality from this bacteria.”
The risk of spread may increase due to large movements of people (within and between countries and regions)
World Health Organization
The WHO also warned that the (ST)23 strains “outcompete” other intestinal bacteria, which can lead to colonization and spread, in addition to generating outbreaks.
“It is expected that there will be an increased risk of spread of these strains at both community and hospital levels,” the agency said.
The overall risk is considered moderate – but the prevalence of kvKp “may be underestimated” due to surveillance limitations and the fact that infections “may go unnoticed”, authorities added.
“With the simultaneous occurrence of hypervirulence and antibiotic resistance, it is expected that there will be an increased risk of the spread of these strains at both community and hospital levels,” said the WHO.
“The prevention and control of carbapenem-resistant hvKp poses significant challenges because it has not been possible to establish the extent of its spread in countries across different regions and information on this subject is currently limited.
“As with other resistance mechanisms, the risk of spread may increase due to large movements of people (within and between countries and regions).”
What is Klebsiella pneumoniae?
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a type of bacteria.
It is usually found in human poop, as well as in soil, water, and medical devices.
It is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, including carbapenems – often the last line of defense against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
Klebsiella can cause pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound or surgical site infections, and meningitis – inflammation of the lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
It is most common among vulnerable hospitalized patients, those using ventilators or intravenous catheters, and people taking antibiotics for long periods.
“Klebsiella pneumoniae is a leading cause of healthcare institution-acquired infections worldwide and has been considered an opportunistic pathogen as it typically causes infections in hospitalized or immunocompromised individuals,” the World Health Organization stated.
Healthy people generally do not get Klebsiella infections, however new strains appear to be more dangerous for everyone.
“Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae that can cause serious infections in healthy individuals and have been identified with increasing frequency in recent years are considered hypervirulent compared to classical strains because of their ability to infect both healthy and immunocompromised individuals and because of their increased tendency to produce invasive infections,” officials added.
The bacteria spreads through personal contact, contaminated water, soil or equipment, and wounds caused by injuries or surgeries.
To prevent infection, health authorities recommend that people wash their hands:
- Before preparing or eating food
- Before touching your eyes, nose or mouth
- Before and after changing dressings or bandages
- After using the bathroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing
- After touching hospital surfaces such as bed rails, bedside tables, door handles, remote controls, or telephones
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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