Superbugs are a bigger threat than ever after the pandemic. In fact, hospital-related infections and death in the U.S. have increased by 15% since 2020, per the CDC. The nation had already been experiencing one antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infection every 11 seconds. COVID made matters worse, erasing years of progress achieved, says the CDC’s Michael Craig. He addressed a crowd at the World Antimicrobial Resistance Congress recently, warning that pandemics continue to be a threat, and that they will likely worsen the AMR problem in the U.S. and abroad.
Is Overprescription to Blame?
Scientists suspect that one reason for rising AMR infection rates is the overprescription of antibiotics to patients infected with the COVID virus. Contributing to the issue was the increased use of both ventilators and catheters. Between 2019 and 2020, there was a 78% increase in Acinetobacter, a 32% rise in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and a 14% increase in Enterococcus infections. Some of these bacteria are resistant to specific drugs; others withstand various of them. There has also been a general increase in antifungal-resistant infections, including Candida auris. The CDC reports that this strain in particular is currently posing a serious global health threat, because it is multidrug-resistant, it is difficult to identify with standard lab methods, and it has caused numerous outbreaks in healthcare settings.
Vulnerable Populations Are Most at Risk
People in developing countries and those living in poverty are at a higher risk than other populations of contracting AMR infections. Factors that put them at a greater threat include a higher likelihood of being exposed to infections from other humans and being. They are also more likely to be battling malnutrition and immunodeficiency and to experience shorter courses of treatment when they are hill. Finally, they are more likely to acquire resistant pathogens from their food or water.
How Are Hospitals Responding?
ARM infection rates can, to some extent, be reduced by increased hygiene practices. Many superbugs are passed through the hands, so frequent washing is key. So, too, is investing in professional hospital cleaning. The latter is a thorough procedure that involves cleaning floors, walls, and windows, offering specialized room-by-room cleaning, roofing cleaning and maintenance, and shower and toilet sanitation.
How Is the Government Reacting to the Superbug Risk?
The Biden administration has taken steps to battle the “second punch” posed by AMR infections in the post-COVID world. President Joe Biden has requested additional funds in fiscal 2023 to fight AMR. Moreover, groups like Pew have asked Congress to pass the Pioneering Antimicrobial Subscriptions to End Upsurging Resistance Act (PASTEUR) Act. The latter seeks to entice drug manufacturers to develop new antibiotics by offering them advanced market commitment.
Superbugs are posing a greater threat than ever post-COVID. This can be attributed to a higher prescription of antibiotics, in addition to the use of catheters and ventilators. The government hopes to dedicate a greater percentage of its budget to curbing this problem, bearing in mind the particularly high risk that economically challenged populations are facing.