The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sept. 23 that there has been a “dramatic increase” in the prevalence of a dangerous type of drug-resistant bacteria in the United States in recent years.
The organism, NDM-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (NDM-CRE), is part of a group of bacteria that are resistant to strong antibiotics. The NDM refers to an enzyme that makes these bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, leaving few treatment options, the agency said.
The deadliness, contagious nature, and resistance to antibiotics have led to the NDM-CRE being referred to as the “nightmare bacteria.”
According to an April 2024 CDC post, signs and symptoms of CRE infections include pneumonia, meningitis, wound infections, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections….