Nightmare Bacteria Infections Are Growing In The US, Here’s Why Experts Are Concerned

A new report from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, has raised alarm over a sharp jump in drug-resistant infections. Cases linked to so-called “nightmare bacteria” have climbed by nearly 70 per cent between 2019 and 2023. These bacteria are resistant to carbapenems, a class of antibiotics often considered the last option when other treatments fail, which makes infections especially hard and expensive to treat.The study points to bacteria carrying the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) gene as the biggest culprit behind this surge. In 2023, 29 US states with genetic testing facilities identified over 4,300 carbapenem-resistant infections, of which 1,831 were tied to NDM. That figure marks a more than fivefold increase in just four years. With cases climbing steadily, experts are voicing growing concern about why the threat is spreading in the US and what it could mean for the future.Why Are Nightmare Bacteria Infections Increasing in the US?Public health experts are calling the findings alarming. David Weiss, an infectious diseases researcher at Emory University, told the AP that the trend is “very worrisome.” CDC scientists noted that many people could be undiagnosed carriers, increasing the risk of wider community spread. The CDC study analyzed data from 29 U.S. states with surveillance and genetic testing systems. In 2023, these states reported 4,341 carbapenem-resistant infections, including 1,831 involving NDM.ALSO READ: Nightmare Bacteria Cases Explode in US: What It Is & What Are the Symptoms You Must KnowHowever, the report excluded some of the most populous states, California, Florida, New York, and Texas—so the actual nationwide numbers are likely much higher. A separate CDC report highlighted a steady rise in NDM infections in New York City between 2019 and 2024. Yet, many hospitals across the country still lack the capacity to perform genetic tests to identify resistant strains, making underreporting a major challenge.What Is Nightmare Bacteria?The term refers to a group of bacteria known as Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), which include familiar germs such as Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, commonly responsible for infections like pneumonia or urinary tract infections, as per World Health Organzation. What makes them ‘nightmarish’ is their resistance to carbapenems, antibiotics typically reserved as a last resort when other drugs fail.The risk intensifies when these bacteria carry the NDM gene, enabling them to neutralize multiple powerful antibiotics simultaneously. In such cases, doctors have very few, if any, treatment options.Nightmare Bacteria SymptomsDetecting CRE infections can be challenging because their early symptoms often resemble those of common infections. Clinicians caution that infections persisting despite antibiotic treatment should raise concern. Common signs include:Urinary tract infections: burning during urination, cloudy urine, frequent urgesPneumonia: cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathingBloodstream infections (sepsis): high fever, chills, confusion, low blood pressure, and rapid heartbeatThe CDC also notes that some cases may involve wound infections, persistent fevers, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.Can Nightmare Bacteria Be Cured?According to CDC researchers, only two drugs remain effective against NDM strains, both costly and requiring intravenous administration. David Weiss of Emory University described the rise as a “grave danger.” Public health authorities warn that unchecked resistance could make once-manageable illnesses, such as urinary tract infections or pneumonia—much harder to treat and could complicate routine surgeries, as post-operative infections may no longer respond to standard therapies.The CDC notes that most carbapenem-resistant and NDM infections originate in healthcare settings, particularly among patients using ventilators, catheters, or intravenous lines. Al Jazeera reports that poor sanitation and gaps in infection control can allow these bacteria to spread rapidly within hospitals.However, the threat is no longer confined to medical facilities. Dr. Maroya Walters, a CDC report author, warned that if resistant strains spread in the wider community, even routine infections like urinary tract infections could become far more difficult to treat.

Nightmare Bacteria Infections Are Growing In The US, Here’s Why Experts Are Concerned

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