Rapid Fire
Nightmare Bacteria
- 29 Sep 2025
- 1 min read
Drug-resistant nightmare bacteria infections are surging in the United States, with NDM-1 (New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1) cases rising fivefold from 2019–2023.
Nightmare Bacteria
- About: Nightmare bacteria are Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) like Klebsiella pneumoniae and E. coli, resistant to last-resort carbapenem antibiotics.
- They are called “nightmares” because they spread resistance genes easily and cause severe, often fatal infections in the bloodstream, lungs, and urinary tract.
- Global Spread: This is not US-specific; NDM-producing bacteria are widespread in South Asia, and international travel and trade make Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) a global challenge.
- AMR occurs when microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) develop resistance to antibiotics and antivirals, making infections harder to treat and easier to spread.
NDM-1 Gene
- NDM-1 is a gene found in certain bacteria that enables them to produce an enzyme called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase.
- This enzyme makes the bacteria resistant to many powerful antibiotics, including some of the last-resort drugs.
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Read More: India’s AMR Crisis |
