Rise of the Supergerms

Last April, a woman checked into a medical clinic in Pennsylvania with what appeared to be a routine infection. But doctors soon realized she had something far more serious: a strain of the Escherichia coli, or E. coli, bacterium that was resistant to colistin, one of the most powerful antibiotics. Antibiotics are medications that fight against disease-causing bacteria.

Colistin is a last resort against bacteria that don’t respond to any other type of antibiotic. Luckily, the woman responded to other treatment. But scientists worry that antibiotic resistance is spreading, creating more hard-to-treat bad bacteria known as “superbugs.”

Last April, a woman checked into a medical clinic in Pennsylvania. She had what seemed to be a common infection. But doctors soon found that the problem was far more serious. The microbes making her sick were a rare and dangerous strain of the Escherichia coli, or E. coli bacterium. Doctors use antibiotics to fight these bacteria, but tests turned up bad news. One of the most powerful antibiotics wouldn’t work. The microbes were resistant to it.

This medication, named colistin, is a last resort. Doctors use it against bacteria that don’t respond to any other antibiotic. Luckily, the woman responded to other treatment. But scientists worry that antibiotic resistance is spreading. This creates more hard-to-treat bacteria called “superbugs.”

Today, more than 100 types of antibiotics exist. But many bacteria have adapted so these medicines are no longer effective against them. As a result, illnesses that are usually easy to cure, like skin infections, can become deadly.

Superbugs infect at least 2 million people in the U.S. each year and kill approximately 23,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. The CDC has called antibiotic resistance one of the country’s most serious public health threats. Yet few new antibiotics have been developed in the past several decades.

Antibiotics aren’t as profitable as other medicines, such as those that treat cancer. So pharmaceutical companies have less incentive to undertake the costly process of developing new ones. That might change now that superbugs are becoming an urgent problem. Scientists are pushing for new research to find the next generation of medicines that can fight deadly, antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

More than 100 types of antibiotics exist. But many bacteria that cause disease have changed. These medicines no longer work against them. When this happens, serious problems result. Illnesses that are usually easy to cure, like skin infections, can become deadly.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that superbugs infect at least 2 million people in the U.S. each year. About 23,000 of those people die. The CDC has called antibiotic resistance one of the country’s most serious public health threats. But few new antibiotics have been found in the past few decades.

Drug companies make less money from antibiotics than from other medicines, such as those that treat cancer. It costs a lot of money to develop new ones. So these companies are less likely to work on finding new antibiotics. Now, that might change. Superbugs are becoming an urgent problem. Scientists are pushing for new research to help fight them. 

Bacteria live all around you. They’re on your eyelashes, between your toes, in soil, and on computer keyboards. Most bacteria are harmless. Many are good for you, like those in your gut, which help you digest food. But others can be dangerous and even deadly.

Antibiotics were introduced in 1942 to fight against bad bacteria (see A Chance Discovery). They revolutionized medicine and saved countless lives. The drugs work by disabling key bacterial functions. “They’re molecules that poison specific parts of processes bacteria need to survive,” says microbiologist Sarah Fortune. She studies disease-causing bacteria at Harvard University in Massachusetts.

Bacteria live all around you. They’re on your eyelashes and between your toes. They live in soil and on computer keyboards. Most bacteria are harmless. Many are good for you, like those in your gut. They help you digest food. But others can be dangerous and even deadly.

Doctors started using antibiotics to fight bad bacteria in 1942 (see A Chance Discovery). These drugs changed medicine and saved countless lives. They work by turning off important bacterial activities. “They’re molecules that poison specific parts of processes bacteria need to survive,” says microbiologist Sarah Fortune. She studies bacteria at Harvard University in Massachusetts.

Bacteria, though, can develop genetic mutations that make them resistant to antibiotics. They can then pass on these changes in their DNA (molecules that carry hereditary information) when they reproduce. They can also share the genes with other bacteria, rapidly spreading the mutation. Suddenly, many more bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.

But bacteria can develop genetic mutations. These changes can make them resistant to antibiotics. They pass on these changes in their DNA (molecules that carry hereditary information) when they reproduce. They can also share genes with other bacteria. This spreads mutations quickly. Suddenly, many more bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.

Sometimes when a person takes an antibiotic, it doesn’t get rid of all the bacteria causing the illness. A few of the microbes might already be resistant to that particular antibiotic, allowing them to survive. Bad bacteria also get a boost when patients don’t finish their full course of antibiotics. Then bad bacteria still lurking in their bodies can multiply. Antibiotics can also kill good bacteria that help battle germs. So any remaining antibiotic-resistant bacteria then have the perfect environment in which to thrive (see What Causes Antibiotic Resistance?).

Sometimes a person takes an antibiotic, but it doesn’t get rid of all the bacteria causing the illness. A few of the microbes might already be resistant to that antibiotic. This allows them to survive. Or the patient doesn’t finish the full course of antibiotics. Then bad bacteria still lurking in the body can multiply. Antibiotics can also kill good bacteria that help battle germs. This gives a boost to any antibiotic-resistant bacteria that are left. They now have a perfect place to thrive (see What Causes Antibiotic Resistance?).  

Some experts blame the rise in superbugs on the overuse of antibiotics. A recent CDC study found that nearly a third of antibiotics prescribed in the U.S. aren’t needed. Many colds and sore throats don’t require antibiotics. But sometimes people are given them anyway. Overuse of antibiotics in livestock and poultry also leads to the development of superbugs, which can be passed on to humans in meat.

“We often view bacteria as our foes,” says Fortune. “We try to eliminate them in animals, on our bodies, everywhere. That’s forcing them to try to develop resistance. If we recognize that most bacteria are our friends, it would relieve a lot of pressure that’s making the bad ones stronger.”

Some experts blame the rise in superbugs on the overuse of antibiotics. A recent CDC study found that nearly a third of antibiotics used in the U.S. aren’t needed. Many colds and sore throats don’t require antibiotics. But sometimes people are given them anyway. Overuse in livestock like cows and chickens also leads to the development of superbugs. Then these microbes can be passed on to humans in meat and poultry.

“We often view bacteria as our foes,” says Fortune. “We try to eliminate them in animals, on our bodies, everywhere. That’s forcing them to try to develop resistance. If we recognize that most bacteria are our friends, it would relieve pressure that’s making the bad ones stronger.”