7 Questions You Probably Have About ‘Superbugs,’ Answered

There’s little comforting about phrases like “nightmare bacteria”“fatal superbug”recent exposure to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Los Angeles

This exposure and resulting infections raise many questions: Will more patients become infectedthe medical devices implicated

If more and stronger action isn’t taken soon to address the growing issue of superbugs like CRE, reports suggest we could face serious consequences: By 2050, these infections could kill 10 million people worldwide

CRE bacteria, which can withstand treatment from virtually every type of antibiotic. (AP Photo/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

1. What do you mean, “superbug”?

2. Why do they mutate like that?survivea select few will mutate in particular ways that make them resistant to antibiotics

3. Why are we hearing more about superbugs now?At least 2 million peoplean estimated 700,000 die from such an infection worldwideCRE infections were five times as likely

4. How much is the average healthy person at risk?CRE infections have only, USA Today reported. But others can increasing outside of hospitalspossible risk of any surgical procedure

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, bacteria (Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

5. So what should I do to protect myself?stay up-to-date on vaccinesantibiotics are “not optimally prescribed” as much as 50 percent of the time

6. Are some superbug infections more serious than others?three urgent threats12 slightly less serious threats

A rod-shape E. Coli bacterium (Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)

7. What about antibiotics in food?can also become drug-resistantchickens are the sourcegenetic similarities

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob

Eshel Ben-Jacob