Some bloodstream infection bacteria grew resistant to last-resort drugs in 2020 - WHO
(VOVWORLD) - Increased drug resistance in bacteria causing bloodstream infections, including against last-resort antibiotics, was seen in the first year of the coronavirus pandemic, a WHO report based on data from 87 countries in 2020 showed.
 Two plates which were coated with an antibiotic-resistant bacteria called Klebsiella with a mutation called NDM 1 and then exposed to various antibiotics are seen at the Health Protection Agency in north London March 9, 2011. (Photo: REUTERS) |
The overuse and/or misuse of antibiotics has helped microbes to become resistant to many treatments, while the pipeline of replacement therapies in development is alarmingly sparse.
High levels (above 50%) of resistance have been reported in bacteria that typically cause life-threatening bloodstream infections in hospitals.
These infections often require treatment with 'last-resort' antibiotics, drugs that are used when all other antibiotics fail.