You may never have heard of microorganisms such as Bauman's akinetobacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or enterobacteria. But these three killers topped the official list of bacteria for which new medicines are urgently needed. It was compiled by the World Health Organization (WHO) and contains 12 bacteria and bacterial families. Moreover, the names of the top 3 are in a critically dangerous category.
Rating the most dangerous super bacteria not intended to scare people. This is a signal to researchers and pharmaceutical companies about what their priorities should be.
Here's what a complete selection of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms looks like, ranked by priority of importance from medium to critical.
12. Pneumococci
Resistance: to penicillin
These bacteria can cause many types of diseases, including pneumonia (pneumonia), ear and sinus infections, meningitis (infection of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord), and carbuncle (blood poisoning). Pneumococcal bacteria spread through coughing, sneezing, and close contact with an infected person.
11. Haemophilus influenzae
Resistance: to ampicillin
These organisms can cause infections in people of all ages, from lungs such as ear infections to severe ones like bloodstream infections.
10. Shigella
Resistance: to fluoroquinolone
This group of bacteria causes a disease called shigellosis. Most patients with shigellosis complain of diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Dysentery usually lasts from 5 to 7 days. This disease can be avoided by frequent and thorough washing of hands with soap and hygiene.
9. Enterococcus faecium
Resistance: to vancomycin
Enterococci are part of the normal intestinal flora in a large number of mammals, and these microbes are currently used as indicators
faecal contamination of water and food. These organisms are considered one of the main causes of nosocomial and infectious diseases due to their ability to survive in the environment and their internal resistance to antimicrobials. Often cause infections of the genitourinary organs.
8. Staphylococcus aureus
Resistance: to methicillin, neutral and resistant to vancomycin
This pathogen causes a wide range of clinical infections. This is the leading cause of infectious endocarditis, as well as skin and pleuropulmonary infections.
7. Helicobacter pylori
Resistance: to clarithromycin
In 2005, the relationship between this bacterium and the occurrence of stomach and intestinal ulcers was proven. This microorganism, 3 microns in size, is the only one of its "brethren" able to survive and multiply in the acidic environment of gastric juice.
6. Campylobacter
Fluoroquinolone Resistance
In sixth place in the ranking of the most dangerous bacteria resistant to antibiotics are microorganisms from the genus Campylobacter. They cause campylobacteriosis, an infectious disease accompanied by diarrhea, cramping, abdominal pain, and fever. Diarrhea can be bloody and "supplemented" by nausea and vomiting. The illness usually lasts about a week.
5. Salmonella
Resistance: to fluoroquinolone
People infected with salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain 12 to 72 hours after infection. Most people recover without treatment after 4-7 days. However, in some patients, diarrhea can be so severe that they have to be hospitalized.
4. Gonococci
Resistance: to fluoroquinolone and cephalosporin
These bacteria should be "thanked" for those who have gonorrhea. Well, also a sexual partner, since gonorrhea is transmitted mainly through sexual contact (another way of transmission is through personal things).
3. Akinetobacterium Bauman
Resistance: to carbapenems
Acinetobacter baumannii, the most important member of the genus Acinetobacter, is one of the most dangerous pathogens for healthcare facilities worldwide. It has the ability to quickly become resistant to antibiotics, making it one of the most important superbugs that threaten the current antibiotic era. The most common infection caused by this microbe is hospital pneumonia.
2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Resistance: to carbapenems
Pathogen affecting immunocompromised patients. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known as the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis and as one of the leading causes of nosocomial infections
1. Enterobacteriaceae, including Klebsiella, E. coli, Serrations and Proteus
Resistance: to carbapenems and strains producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases
Like the previous two participants in the list of the most dangerous bacteria of our time, enterobacteria are gram-negative bacteria that are resistant to many drugs. They are not widespread, but cause serious, often fatal infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems, for example, as a result of chemotherapy or organ transplantation. The most dangerous strains have recently become resistant to a class of antibiotics called carbapenems. These were the only drugs that had previously effectively killed enterobacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bauman akinetobacterium.
One pathogen with antibiotic resistance was not included in the WHO selection. It's about mycobacterium tuberculosis. The problem of drug-resistant tuberculosis is well known, and the purpose of the WHO ranking was to focus on threats that have not yet been widely recognized.
