U.S. Sees First Case of Bacteria Resistant to All Antibiotics

The mcr-1 plasmid-borne colistin resistance gene has been found primarily in Escherichia coli, pictured.  REUTERS/COURTESY CDC

CLICK HERE - STUDY - Escherichia coli Harboring mcr-1 and blaCTX-M on a Novel IncF Plasmid: First report of mcr-1 in the USA

CLICK HERE - Emergence of plasmid-mediated mcr-1 gene in colistin-resistant Enterobacter aerogenes and Enterobacter cloacae

U.S. health officials on Thursday reported the first case in the country of a patient with an infection resistant to all known antibiotics, and expressed grave concern that the superbug could pose serious danger for routine infections if it spreads.

"We risk being in a post-antibiotic world," said Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, referring to the urinary tract infection of a 49-year-old Pennsylvania woman who had not traveled within the prior five months.

Frieden, speaking at a National Press Club luncheon in Washington, D.C., said the infection was not controlled even by colistin, an antibiotic that is reserved for use against "nightmare bacteria."

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ALSO SEE RELATED ARTICLE HERE - First bacteria resistant to all antibiotics found in U.S. woman

ALSO SEE RELATED ARTICLE HERE - ScienceDaily - First discovery in United States of colistin resistance in a human E. coli infection