Antibiotics destroy bacteria. They are life-saving medications, but some bacteria have developed a resistance to antibiotics. To put things simply, antibiotic-resistant bacteria can’t be killed or stopped by most antibiotic therapies.
Some infections caused by the resistant bacteria can be very serious, even life-threatening. These are four antibiotic-resistant infections you should know about.
1. Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
This germ is particularly bad because it is resistant to most of the known antibiotics. People who have catheters or are hooked to breathing machines are more likely to contract CRE infection. CRE infections usually occur in hospitals, rather than in the general population.
2. Clostridium Difficile (C. diff)
C. diff also affects patients who have been in hospitals or care facilities for a long time. It can cause a variety of symptoms. Mild infection results in diarrhea and abdominal cramps, but serious infection may cause colon inflammation. Other symptoms may include fever, nausea, dehydration, or a rapid heart rate.
3. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
MRSA infection usually attacks the skin. If your immune system is weak or you spent a lot of time in the hospital, you are in greater danger of attracting MRSA. Unfortunately, common antibiotics for staphylococcus infection don’t help. It is usually treated with vancomycin, but some strains of MRSA may be resistant to that as well.
4. Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE)
You might get a VRE infection after a surgery, because the bacteria often attack surgical wounds. Also, a VRE infection may occur in your urinary tract. And these bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause an infection there. The treatment may vary depending on the severity of the infection.
To Wrap Up
Treating bacterial infections is becoming increasingly difficult in today’s world because antibiotics are being overprescribed in some countries. Although most of the antibiotic-resistant infections you should know about are usually found in hospital settings, this knowledge may help you prevent infection.
