'Nightmare' Superbug May Have Spread Outside Hospitals

The superbug is known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, a family of bacteria that are difficult to treat because they are resistant to powerful antibiotics. So far, nearly all cases of CRE infections have been seen in people who stay health care facilities, or who have been treated with certain medical procedures or devices, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

...and...

But the six people in the new report had not stayed in a health care facility for at least a year before they contracted the infection. They had not recently undergone surgery or dialysis, either, and hadn't received any invasive devices, such as having a catheter or feeding tube inserted — all of which can be risk factors for CRE infections, the report said.

Thus, the six cases appear to be "community-associated" CRE infections, meaning the patients may have picked up these bacteria from somewhere in their everyday lives, outside of a health care setting.

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For those in the medical field that want a more in-depth report, read the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the CDC.

Although spreading outside medical facilities is not unheard of, this particular bug is resistant to nearly all antibiotics. And, with a mortality rate of 50%, it being categorized as a 'nightmare bug' is not overblown and truly a nightmare for the health care industry.

CRE have been dubbed "nightmare" bacteria because they are resistant to nearly all antibiotics, and they can be highly lethal, killing up to 50 percent of infected patients, according to the CDC.

The search is still on to find the point where it was contracted, but the research has been all over with many differing variables for each patient. So, what can YOU do to prevent contracting this? The CDC recommends the following, IMO common sense, protocol.

To prevent CRE and other infection, members of the general public can wash their hands frequently and take antibiotics only when they are prescribed, Janelle said. Patients should also expect their health care providers to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before touching patients, the CDC said. If the health care provider doesn't do this, patients should ask them to do so, the agency said.

a reply to: Krakatoa

Fear not.

A vaccine will soon be coming to a pharmacy near you.

The only antibiotics that are used to treat CRE are polymyxins, aminoglycosides, tigecycline, fosfomycin and temocillin. This is not a huge list, and from what I understand the treatment is patient specific, and these arent even a sure shot to work.

a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn

This thread was not to instill fear, but to educate and warn. If I wanted it to be "fear porn", I would not have added the last paragraph. My wife is in the medical field, and I just asked her about it and they are very concerned about this one. It is particularly nasty in the enzymes it can produce protects it from nearly ALL antibiotics. If diagnosed early and near a treatment center, it can be survivable. But, with the cost of healthcare rising here in the U.S. to astronomical prices, I know a lot of people that are avoiding going to the doctor until it becomes serious. In this case, waiting too long could be a death sentence.

Especially when the best defense is simply washing your hands, and making sure your medical practitioners do as well. And, even more so for food prep workers....I repeat, WASH YOUR HANDS after using the restroom.

originally posted by: NightSkyeB4Dawn
a reply to: Krakatoa

Fear not.

A vaccine will soon be coming to a pharmacy near you.

You are correct, sort of. Not a vaccine, but a new antibiotic. There are some experimental drugs being developed to fight CRE. For example, the company Actavis is developing a new antibiotic called ceftazidime-avibactam

originally posted by: NightSkyeB4Dawn
a reply to: Krakatoa

Fear not.

A vaccine will soon be coming to a pharmacy near you.

Some are a Big Pharma ploy and some are not. I actually HOPE this one is. But it is not looking that way.

a reply to: Krakatoa

Your right about the washing your hands bit. Especially in the hospital setting.....some of the nastiest bugs on the planet grow in hospitals. And while this is concerning, like you said, it isnt a death sentence. Problem comes when the patient doesnt respond to antibiotics for whatever reason and develop pneumonia or the worst case scenario, sepsis.....

originally posted by: annoyedpharmacist
a reply to: Krakatoa

Your right about the washing your hands bit. Especially in the hospital setting.....some of the nastiest bugs on the planet grow in hospitals. And while this is concerning, like you said, it isnt a death sentence. Problem comes when the patient doesnt respond to antibiotics for whatever reason and develop pneumonia or the worst case scenario, sepsis.....

Agreed. And again, this means whenever you work in the health field or see a health professional. But I also see this as very relevant to the food service industry, which if this bug gets into that chain, lookout. Food service management need to seriously re-iterate the washing your hands before touching or prepping food for customers. It is bad enough with the latest outbreaks of food-borne pathogens, we do NOT need this little bugger making the news.

originally posted by: NightSkyeB4Dawn
a reply to: Krakatoa

Fear not.

A vaccine will soon be coming to a pharmacy near you.

In this case, we actually don't have to worry about a sloppily prepared, ineffective, dangerous vaccine, because it's a bacteria, not a a virus.

Too bad so many ignorant patients and terrible doctors over the years took and prescribed antibiotics for viruses, causing this scenario.

Ignorant patient: "I have a cold, I want antibiotics."

Terrible doctor: "(sigh) ok, here you go."

Stupid patient: "I just took the first three doses and i feel great! I'll save the rest for next time I get the sniffles."

Terrible doctor: "Pol Pot ain't got nothing on me! I love destroying humanity!!"

a reply to: Krakatoa

Stories like this remind me just how dangerous bacteria are. Most people when thinking of a global pandemic are stuck on a viral outbreak.....imo, a bacterial outbreak is just as likely. Heck, the bubonic plague was a bacterial outbreak caused by Yersinia pestis.

originally posted by: dogstar23

originally posted by: NightSkyeB4Dawn
a reply to: Krakatoa

Fear not.

A vaccine will soon be coming to a pharmacy near you.

In this case, we actually don't have to worry about a sloppily prepared, ineffective, dangerous vaccine, because it's a bacteria, not a a virus.

Too bad so many ignorant patients and terrible doctors over the years took and prescribed antibiotics for viruses, causing this scenario.

Ignorant patient: "I have a cold, I want antibiotics."

Terrible doctor: "(sigh) ok, here you go."

Stupid patient: "I just took the first three doses and i feel great! I'll save the rest for next time I get the sniffles."

Terrible doctor: "Pol Pot ain't got nothing on me! I love destroying humanity!!"

I sound like a broken record every time I dispense antibiotics....MAKE SURE YOU FINISH THE CYCLE.

It didn't escape the facilities as implied; it naturally occurred. A warning to anyone who uses antibiotics, ALWAYS FINISH THEM! They build resistances and evolve over time, taking the proper dose greatly diminishes the possibilities of new "Super" bugs occurring.

Well, I suppose the bacteria lives symbiotically in hospital personal. I suppose some home health workers also have it and they go into people's homes to help take care of them. They can spread it to people who have bad immune systems or take immune system blocking meds. Lots of meds dampen the immune system, some by design and others that dampen the immune system so people do not react severely to the meds.

a reply to: rickymouse

You mean the same immune system blocking meds you take for a kidney transplant,

a reply to: tikbalang

There are many combos of things that dampen and temporarily block our immune systems. Look in the drug stores, there are antihistamines everywhere. Some foods also have antioxidant properties which actually slightly to moderately suppress our immune system. There are lots of meds that use various chemistries to stop our reaction to things. Even Carrageenan can block our immune response to milk products when it is added to them. It doesn't mean the milk chemistry isn't hurting us, only that our body does not boost the immune response and lowers cleanup of the milk because of it's effects on macrophages.

arent there natural products that have antiseptic properties like charcoal, silver and garlic, among others?


i eat garlic EVERY day and havent been seriously ill with anything thats "going around" for years and i am NOT a healthy person per se..


I just wonder if its possible as a preventative measure to just take garlic supplements or something and not even worry about getting something like this.

a reply to: Krakatoa

That's scary. I've been dealing with an HA-MRSA for years, and it's not fun (to say the least!).

I'd bet cannabis extracts would work on it though. Some cannabinoids -- especially CBDs and CBGs -- have been tested against bacterial infections with success. Plus, the CBDs are known to help stimulate the immune system to fight the bacteria. If we could get the law out of the way, medicine could probably fix this -- and so many other things!

Even better, many/most folks could probably fix themselves.

a reply to: tribal

arent there natural products that have antiseptic properties like charcoal, silver and garlic, among others?

There sure are! Oregano oil, olive leaf extract, and turmeric are other natural antibiotics/antiseptics/antibacterials. I've never used silver internally, but it's been a Godsend for topical cuts and stuff. I always have silver on hand -- liquid, spray and soap.

I just wonder if its possible as a preventative measure to just take garlic supplements or something and not even worry about getting something like this.

That's my premise. I started taking extra fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E & K1 & K2) about 18 months ago to support my immune system and help keep me healthy -- instead of trying to treat something after the fact. Also a liposomal Vitamin C, which makes the C fat soluble. It seems to be helping, and sure isn't hurting. I know twice now everyone around me came down with a bug, and I didn't get it. It's just anecdotal, I know, but I'm not complaining!

a reply to: dogstar23

Too bad so many ignorant patients and terrible doctors over the years took and prescribed antibiotics for viruses, causing this scenario.

Even worse, too bad our healthcare and health needs were taken from our power and control and we were made dependent on others... because this is what happens. We, as patients, have no control -- but we sure get the blame! "You took too many antibiotics!" "You didn't take enough antibiotics!" We can't win.

Everyone would be far better off if we taught people how to take care of themselves to the absolute greatest extent possible, and reserved doctors for the stuff we can't handle ourselves.

a reply to: Krakatoa

Time to stock up on your colloidal silver.

But big pharma hates that because they won't make money from it.