Incredibly contagious and incurable: WHO sounds the alarm about the hvKp superbacterium
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported the discovery of new dangerous strains of the highly contagious superbacterium, hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp), in 16 countries, including the United States. These strains are resistant to many antibiotics, making them a serious threat to public health, and their infectivity increases the likelihood of global spread, LiveScience reports.
- pneumoniae is commonly found in the environment and in the upper throat and gastrointestinal tract of animals and humans. While the classic variant of the bacterium is dangerous mainly in medical facilities, causing infections in people with weak immunity, the new highly contagious strains are of particular concern among scientists because they can cause serious infections even in healthy people. These infections can progress rapidly, leading to complications and even death, and are not treatable.
The hvKp strains first identified in Asia in the 1980s were initially susceptible to various antibiotics. However, they have since spread around the world and become resistant to old and new classes of antibiotics, including carbapenems. This class of antibiotics is often the last line of defense against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections, adding to the danger now posed by hvKp.
The WHO report, based on data from 43 countries, confirms the presence of hvKp in 16 of them. Of particular concern is the ST23 strain, which is resistant to carbapenems and all available beta-lactam antibiotics. Although the ST23 strain has not been detected in the US, the presence of other hvKp strains indicates a high risk of its emergence, putting many people’s lives at risk. Dr. Amesh Adalya of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security highlighted the high risk of morbidity and mortality associated with carbapenem-resistant strains of hvKp.
WHO has called for increased awareness and increased testing to more effectively track and treat these infections. The agency noted that existing surveillance limitations may mean that the true prevalence of hvKp infections is underestimated. In addition to these conclusions, the broader problem of antibiotic resistance is added. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antibiotic-resistant infections cause more than 35,000 deaths each year in the US alone, and the number of bacteria developing drug resistance is only increasing. This stimulates scientists to develop new antibiotics and health systems to implement reliable infection control measures around the world.
The researchers emphasize that the fight against such dangerous pathogens as hvKp requires a comprehensive approach, which includes the development of new drugs, improved diagnostic methods and increased international cooperation. It is also important to raise awareness among medical professionals and the population about the dangers of antibiotic resistance and preventive measures.
In addition, the WHO calls on the governments of countries to strengthen control over the use of antibiotics both in medicine and in agriculture, as the uncontrolled use of these drugs contributes to the acceleration of the development of resistant strains. The organization emphasizes the need for educational campaigns and the development of national strategies to combat the spread of superbugs.
The emergence of hypervirulent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae is a serious challenge for global health, and WHO emphasizes that only joint efforts can stop the spread of these dangerous bacteria and protect the lives of millions of people.
