Submission + - New Wave of Antibiotic-resistant Bugs (nytimes.com)
reporter writes: According to a report just published by the "New York Times", although methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most well-known antibiotic-resistant germ, it is less dangerous than a new class of gram-negative bacteria which have become resistant to all safe antibiotics. "The bacteria, classified as Gram-negative because of their reaction to the so-called Gram stain test, can cause severe pneumonia and infections of the urinary tract, bloodstream and other parts of the body. Their cell structure makes them more difficult to attack with antibiotics than Gram-positive organisms like MRSA."
The only anbtibiotics — colistin and polymyxin B — that still have efficacy against gram-negative bacteria produce dangerous side effects: kidney damage and nerve damage. Patients who are infected with gram-negative bacteria must make the unsavory choice between life with kidney damage or death with intact kidneys.
Recently, some new strains of Gram-negative bacteria have shown resistance against even colistin and polymyxin B. Infection with these new strains typically means death for the patient.
The only anbtibiotics — colistin and polymyxin B — that still have efficacy against gram-negative bacteria produce dangerous side effects: kidney damage and nerve damage. Patients who are infected with gram-negative bacteria must make the unsavory choice between life with kidney damage or death with intact kidneys.
Recently, some new strains of Gram-negative bacteria have shown resistance against even colistin and polymyxin B. Infection with these new strains typically means death for the patient.
