Archive · 1 Oct 2025
Nightmare Bacteria Infections Surging in the United States
Imagine tiny bugs called bacteria that can make you sick.
Some of these bugs are getting really tough because they can resist medicines designed to kill them, called antibiotics.
One type, Enterobacterales, is becoming more resistant to many drugs.
A special gene called NDM makes the bacteria even stronger by destroying antibiotics.
Infections from these tough bugs are going up in the US, which is scary because they are hard to treat.
This is happening partly because of increased antibiotic use during the pandemic and problems in hospitals and doctor's offices.
It's important to take antibiotics exactly as a doctor prescribes to stop this problem from getting worse.
Infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria rose by almost 70% between 2019 and 2023.
The bacteria, Enterobacterales, are resistant to many antibiotics.
The NDM gene creates an enzyme that destroys antibiotics, making the bacteria harder to treat.
CRE infections with the NDM gene jumped by 461% between 2019 and 2023.
Poor hygiene and cleaning practices, plus antibiotic overuse, contribute to the spread.
- Who
- Scientists, CDC, healthcare providers
- What
- Increase in infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria (Enterobacterales), specifically those with the NDM gene.
- When
- Infections increased between 2019 and 2023.
- Where
- United States
- Why
- Increased antibiotic use during the pandemic and insufficient infection control measures have contributed to the spread.
- Bacteria Type
- Enterobacterales
- Resistance
- Resistant to many antibiotics, including carbapenems
- NDM Gene
- Creates an enzyme that destroys antibiotics
- Infection Increase (2019-2023)
- CRE infections rose ~69%; NDM-CRE infections rose ~461%
- Treatments
- Two expensive antibiotics, IV administered
- Potential Infections
- Pneumonia, bloodstream infections, UTIs, wound infections, meningitis