Danger to healthy people through new killer germs

New killer bacteria: Danger for healthy people

01/09/2014

Around 600,000 people are infected each year in German hospitals with dangerous antibiotic-resistant germs. Up to 20,000 patients die of it. But the problem seems to be even worse: a new variant of the pathogen is more infectious and deadly.

Around 600,000 infections with hospital germs per year
As killer germs, some strains of the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus are notorious in clinics. Most infections are caused by the so-called MRSA germ („Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus“), which is resistant to most antibiotics. Every year, around 600,000 people in hospitals are infected with dangerous multidrug-resistant germs, killing up to 20,000 patients. The problem therefore occurs mainly in clinics, since sick people and germs come together in bundles. Pathogens can therefore spread excellently from patient to patient and multiply wonderfully in the weakened bodies.

New bacteria variant is spreading
Particularly at risk are people with a weakened immune system and seniors. In the past year, two-thirds of the patients were 70 or older. An infection can lead to numerous ailments, such as inflammation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, pneumonia or blood poisoning. Although those responsible in German hospitals are trying to protect patients from the germs by improving hygiene management, the spread of such MRSA remains a major problem in the clinics. It gets even worse: like that „world“ reports, another variant of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is spreading, which is also resistant to many antibiotics. Accordingly, researchers speak of „community acquired multi-resistant staphylococcus aureus“ (AC-MRSA), Staphylococci, which can be caught by contact with other people.

Transmitted by simple skin contact
Already by simple skin contact, for example during sports, the dangerous bacteria can be transmitted from person to person. In addition, in contrast to the clinical germs, they are not only dangerous for weakened or ill people, but also for people who are completely healthy. For a long time, it was unclear where this new MRSA variant came from. But now a research team led by Marc Stegger of the State Serum Institute in Denmark reported in the journal „mbio“, that it has traced the genetic traces of AC-MRSA.

Ur-variant can still be treated with common antibiotics
In their study, the scientists analyzed AC-MRSA samples from 22 countries, all of which are among the most widespread strain in Europe today. However, based on the genetic information of the various samples, they quickly realized that the bacteria were not originally from Europe. The common ancestor of all AC MRSA apparently comes from sub-Saharan Africa. There, this original variant exists to this day and can still be treated with common antibiotics.

Germs probably came to Europe with tourists and immigrants
However, this behavior is quite different with their descendants, who have spread to Europe. These apparently arrived in the 1980s from southern Africa to Europe and have acquired two resistance genes in this way, which makes them resistant to common antibiotics. „A single descendant of this bacterium then became the dominant MRSA strain in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East“, Stegger explained. The resistant MRSA germs had probably come with tourists or immigrants to Europe. In addition to the positive effects on goods traffic and tourism, globalization also means that bacteria become more dangerous and mobile. (Ad)