‘Nightmare bacteria’ infections are up — all about the ‘triple threat’

A new study from the CDC found that infection rates for a drug-resistant “nightmare bacteria” are on the rise, increasing nearly 70% between 2019 and 2023.

The increase was primarily driven by the NDM gene, which makes bacteria particularly difficult to treat.

Only two antibiotics are known to effectively combat these infections, and both are cost-prohibitive and must be administered by IV.

Bacterial resistance occurs when bacteria become strong enough to overcome the medicines designed to destroy them.

Experts maintain that the misuse of antibiotics, including taking them unnecessarily or leaving a course unfinished, has contributed to the development of superbugs.

The term “nightmare bacteria” was coined by former CDC Director Tom Frieden in 2013 to describe carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), which display bacterial resistance to carbapenems, a class of antibiotics considered a last-ditch treatment for serious infections.

“They pose a triple threat,” Frieden said, noting high mortality rates, resistance to drugs, and easy spread to other bacteria.

Bacteria carrying the NDM gene — which creates an enzyme that destroys antibiotics — were previously considered rare and associated with patients who received medical care abroad.

People may be carriers of drug-resistant bacteria without realizing it, which can lead to the spread of infection within and beyond their communities.

“That may play out in doctors’ offices across the country, as infections long considered routine and easy to treat — like urinary tract infections — could become chronic problems,” said Dr. Maroya Walters, one of the report’s authors.

Drawing from 29 states, researchers counted 4,341 cases of carbapenem-resistant bacterial infections in 2023, with 1,831 of them the NDM variety.

The rate of carbapenem-resistant infections rose from just under 2 per 100,000 people in 2019 to more than 3 per 100,000 in 2023 — a 69% increase.

The rate of NDM cases alone skyrocketed from around 0.25 to about 1.35 — a shocking increase of 460%, the authors said.

According to the CDC, CRE bacteria can spread through contact with contaminated hands, wounds, or feces, as well as through the use of medical equipment.

The CDC lists the symptoms and signs of CRE infection, including:

• Pneumonia
• Bloodstream infections
• UTIs
• Wound infections
• Meningitis

Patients most at risk include those in healthcare settings, especially those who use ventilators, urinary catheters or venous catheters. Other at-risk populations include patients with weakened immune systems or those on long-term courses of antibiotics.

According to Scientific American, there were CRE infections resulting in 1,100 deaths in 2020.

Experts note that a considerable surge in antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic is likely reflected in increased drug resistance.

However, the CDC’s report only offers a partial picture, as several states are not thoroughly testing or reporting on their infectious cases. Some hospitals also aren’t equipped to perform the necessary testing to detect forms of genetic resistance in bacteria, scientists added.

Data from some of the most populous states, including California, Florida, New York and Texas, was unavailable to researchers, meaning the total number of U.S. infections is more than likely much higher than the figures present in the report.

A CDC report in June also noted an increase in terrifying NDM cases in New York City between 2019 and 2024.