What is a Superbug and why are they such a problem?

A superbug is a bacteria which is not killed effectively by antibiotics, through a developed resistance.

They are a growing problem for all of humanity, because our silver bullets, antibiotics, do not kill all bacteria any more, which results in illnesses which we had wiped out or controlled  – deaths are also happening which would not have happened some years ago.

A recent report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) says that there are 25,000 deaths related to antibacterial resistance each year.

How has this happened – simple we have over  and misused the magic treatment of antibiotics and many bacteria have now developed partial or total resistance to them.

It is one of the big threats to human health worldwide and has many specialists globally very very concerned about the future.

“Antimicrobial resistance is an alarming threat putting human and animal health in danger. We have put substantial efforts to stop its rise, but this is not enough. We must be quicker, stronger and act on several fronts;”  said Vytenis Andriukaitis, the EU’s health and food safety commissioner.

Nearly everyone has heard of MRSA – Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus – or as it is commonly known, “Golden Staph”. Many of us even have had a Golden Staph infection or know of someone who has. But this is only one of the pathogenic bacteria which are now showing antibiotic resistance. There are some 200 types of Salmonella which can make humans sick and many of these are now showing antibiotic resistance.

Most of the antibiotics used today are not given when humans and animals are sick, but are instead used in feed as preventatives to stop stock becoming ill. This has meant that bacteria now have a much greater exposure to the antibiotics and so resistance is more likely.

Mike Catchpole, the ECDC’s chief scientist, said “Prudent use of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine is extremely important. We all have a responsibility to ensure that antibiotics keep working.”

Much work is being done across the world to find solutions to this huge and increasing health proble. Most involve working on alternatives to antibiotics, particular for use in feed.