What Are Superbugs and Why Are They Drug Resistant?

As medicine and technology continuously improve, the chances of fighting off diseases is becoming more and more common – except with superbugs. But what are superbugs, and why are they resistant to antibiotics?

Scientists, researchers, and doctors are growing more and more concerned about the effectiveness of antibiotics in treating infections.

Long-term overuse of bacteria-fighting medications has led to superbugs – organisms that can resist medical treatment.

This problem isn’t going away; unfortunately, it continues to worsen over time, gradually reaching crisis levels.

So what are superbugs?

What are Superbugs?

Superbugs are bacteria that no longer respond to treatment with readily-available antibiotics.

While we do have a vast array of antibiotic choices available in the modern world, no two drugs are exactly the same.

Some are broad spectrum (treating most bacteria), while others are very specific in nature.

Just as we can build up immunities to things we are exposed to regularly, bacteria can become immune to the illness-fighting effects of antibiotic therapies. When that happens, the bacterium becomes a “superbug.”

The Concern

Now that we know the answer to “what are superbugs?”, we’ll discuss why they pose such a large concern to society.

Due to the overuse of medications, doctors fear that the healthcare system will eventually lose the ability to effectively treat even common infections, leading to a significant rise in illness and potentially, even infection-related fatalities.

But that doesn’t mean there isn’t anything you can do to stay safe, either.

In fact, simple lifestyle changes and shifts in how we approach antibiotic treatment can significantly lower your risk from becoming sick.

It all starts with education – and that’s what we’re covering right here, in this post.

Why are Antibiotics Inefficient Against Superbugs?

Antibiotics are becoming inefficient against superbug bacteria because, as a global society, we lean on them far too often when we shouldn’t.

Overuse of antibiotics means that bacteria are regularly exposed to the drug in question; so they become better able to mutate and develop new methods of self-protection.

This is a simple matter of evolution.

Medical News Today recently presented studies taking a closer look at why superbugs seem to be growing at such a rapid pace. What the study found painted a very stark picture of where the healthcare system might be within, say, 50 years.

Findings of the Study

The scientists involved in the study started by taking a closer look at how antibiotics and bacteria interact with each other.

They paired polymyxin B, an antibiotic, with several different bacteria to better understand exactly what the antibiotics need to do to break through diseased cell membranes.

More specifically, they investigated how the bacteria stopped the drug (which was once the only drug capable of beating antibiotic-resistant infections) from penetrating the cells.

In the past, positively-charged drugs were able to pass through negatively-charged bacteria.

They were able to do this by literally “punching holes” in the cell membrane. Antibiotics weaken the cell, allowing them to “stick” more efficiently.

The problem is that bacterial cells have adapted and are now much thicker, making it much more difficult for drug particles to get through.

Scientists are now tasked with creating drugs with a far stronger positive charge with the ability to push through the newer, stronger bacterial walls.

What are the Most Common Superbugs?

Now that we’ve answered what are superbugs, it’s time to look at some of the most commonly seen infections.

While “superbug” is an unofficial term, it comes with a serious connotation. These are germs with a remarkable ability to survive despite antibiotic influence.

Superbugs are particularly threatening because they are so difficult to treat, but they’re also extremely contagious in many cases. They are also extra dangerous to those who have compromised immune systems.

Superbugs pose the most risk to healthcare facilities, like hospitals. Because they are often so contagious, it takes very little for them to spread.

For example, a nurse who is a carrier of a specific superbug (such as MRSA) could inadvertently start an epidemic if he or she transmits the germ patient-to-patient on a particularly sensitive floor (such as the ICU or an oncology ward).

What we  do know is that some superbugs seem to be more common than others, especially in hospital settings. These are the most common:

1. MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a very specific strain of “staph” that usually presents as some sort of skin infection.

A simple cut or wound may become an entry point for bacteria, but other infections begin as closed bumps or wounds that look like pimples or spider bites.

Some people wait longer than they should to seek treatment because their wounds mimic other conditions.

2. VRE

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) occurs when the Enterococcus bacteria that lives in the intestines becomes infected.

The most common antibiotic used to treat enterococcus infections is vancomycin, but many patients contract highly-resistant strains that simply don’t respond to treatment.

This is more of an issue when the infection spreads to the bloodstream.

Individuals with diabetes, semi-permanent intravenous lines and ports and catheters are more likely to develop this type of complication.

3. E.coli H30-Rx

A lot of us have heard of E.coli infections, which are commonly treated with fluoroquinolone drugs.

The H30-Rx strain is particularly resistant to treatment, and in many cases can take a combination of four or five different drugs to eradicate.

Most people who contract E.coli are well again within 7 to 10 days, but the major outbreak in 2018, thanks to contaminated romaine lettuce, reminded us how dangerous this disorder can be.

E. coli can cause not only gastrointestinal disorders, but can also contribute to the development of:

• Urinary tract infections
• Pneumonia
• Life-threatening infection
• Hypotension, and more

Do You Really Need That Antibiotic?

Of major concern is a public perception that they need antibiotic therapy when they don’t really.

There is a general lack of understanding of the difference between viral and bacterial illnesses, leading patients to believe they need antibiotics merely because they have been sick for a long time or have uncomfortable symptoms.

They are less willing to allow their viral infections to run their course and generally press their doctors, or sometimes even embellish the truth when describing their symptoms, in order to get prescriptions they don’t really need.

It’s important for us to trust our medical providers when they make decisions regarding a need for antibiotic therapy.

While it is true that some viral infections can become complicated, leading to the development of bacterial infections, taking an antibiotic when it is not needed will not cure your virus.

It’s also very likely to give you side effects you didn’t anticipate, including:

• Upset stomachs
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Yeast infections

When Are Antibiotics NOT Needed?

Unless you develop a secondary infection, you typically do not need antibiotics for the following:

• Colds
• Flus
• Viral bronchitis without complicating risk factors (like COPD)
• Sinus infections
• Many cases of pneumonia

When complicating risk factors are present, your doctor may prescribe them because he or she judges the risk to be greater than the risk of generating a superbug.

How to Protect Yourself from Superbugs

Protecting yourself against superbugs means becoming more conscious of your need for antibiotic therapy.

This includes knowing when to avoid the drugs, but there are also simple lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the risk:

• Handle food properly to prevent food poisoning
• Keep your home and work spaces sanitary
• Only using antibiotics when needed and/or when prescribed
• Take all prescribed antibiotics until finished (unless otherwise directed)
• Practice infection prevention – wear gloves or masks at clinics and hospitals
• Wash your hands frequently and/or carry hand sanitizer in high-risk settings

Conclusion

Antibiotics are critical to our survival, but bacteria are evolving at a faster rate than we can develop new, stronger drugs.

Now that we’ve answered the question “what are superbugs?”, you can take better precautions.

Becoming more conscious of the way we use antibiotics is the only way we can slow the growth of superbugs.

This will allow scientists and researchers the opportunity to further research and create newer, stronger drugs before a crisis.

When it comes to reducing the risk, we can all help.