According to the CDC, there has been a concerning increase in drug-resistant microorganisms in Ukraine.
Hospitals in Ukraine
A recent study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed that there has been a significant rise in the number of bacteria that are resistant to the strongest antibiotics, posing a serious threat to the effectiveness of last-resort treatments for infections.
Authorities are currently urging for immediate action to be taken to address the pressing issue, and cautioning that the situation is critical.drug-resistant
The spread of germs has extended past the borders of the country that is experiencing war.
The researchers, including scientists from the CDC and Ukraine’s health ministry, sampled hundreds of Ukrainian patients for infections they caught while being treated at the hospital in November and December last year.
When all else fails, doctors use the “last line of defense” to combat bacteria.
In comparison, only about 6.2% of samples from a European study in 2017 showed resistance to carbapenem antibiotics in similar types of infections.
The authors of the study stated that in Ukraine, there is a combination of high levels of antimicrobial resistance before the war, a rise in traumatic wounds, and added strain on healthcare facilities due to the war. This has resulted in a higher number of multidrug-resistant organisms being detected and spreading into Europe.
For many years, health authorities have been cautioning about the increasing danger of antimicrobial resistance resulting from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In March 2022, the European branch of the CDC cautioned that hospitals should take proactive measures to separate and test patients from Ukraine for bacteria that are resistant to multiple drugs.
In Germany, there was a significant increase in infections from drug-resistant bacteria after March 2022. This was attributed to refugees and evacuated patients from Ukraine.
The largest rises in Germany were observed in instances of Klebsiella pneumoniae that were resistant to drugs, while similar bacteria did not experience significant increases. This indicates that a rise in reports of these concerning bacteria cannot be solely attributed to increased screening measures.
Klebsiella belongs to a larger category of bacteria known as Enterobacterales that have been showing increased resistance to carbapenem antibiotics. This has been identified as a significant public health issue by the CDC.
According to data from the CDC, drug-resistant bacteria are responsible for over 13,000 cases and 1,000 fatalities annually in the United States. In 2021, approximately 5% of Klebsiella samples were reported to exhibit resistance.
The research published on Thursday revealed that every Klebsiella sample taken from Ukrainian patients demonstrated resistance to carbapenem antibiotics.
Additional cases of drug-resistant diseases have been observed in Ukraine.
In July, doctors from the U.S. military who were treating a Ukrainian soldier reported that the patient had contracted six different types of “extensively drug-resistant bacteria,” such as Klebsiella pneumoniae. This occurred after the soldier experienced severe burns on over half of his body.
In a report published by the CDC’s journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, the doctors stated that the isolates were resistant to many antibiotics and contained multiple antibiotic-resistant genes.
the country’s
According to the CDC’s report, in order to effectively address the increasing danger, health officials in Ukraine will require additional training and resources to support the country.hospitals
Providing medical care to individuals with infections during times of war.
Ukrainian laboratories have faced difficulties in obtaining sufficient resources and personnel to test for resistance in infections. This is crucial not only for determining the extent of the problem, but also for providing guidance to doctors in treating challenging infections.
The writers stated that they are working with international partners to combat the concerning rise of antimicrobial resistance in Ukraine through the development and implementation of locally-driven initiatives. They also emphasized the need for continual support to expand these efforts on a national level.
Alexander Tin
Source: cbsnews.com