CDC Warns of 19 Dangerous Germs, Many Resistant to Medicine, Threatening Americans
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new list of the germs that pose the biggest threat to people in the United States. The list includes 19 types of bacteria and fungi, and most of them are drug-resistant. This means that common medicines often do not work well against them.
According to the CDC, these germs cause an estimated 9.7 million infections in the country each year. They are also responsible for about 50,800 deaths. Many of these infections happen in hospitals and nursing homes, where patients are often sick or have weakened immune systems. However, some infections also spread in the community, outside of medical facilities.
Drug resistance happens when germs change over time and survive the medicines that were designed to kill them. Doctors use antibiotics and antifungal drugs to treat infections, but overuse and misuse of these medicines can speed up this process. Health experts say that people can help slow the spread of resistant germs by taking antibiotics only when they are prescribed, finishing the full course of treatment when told to do so, and washing their hands often.
The CDC says that tracking these germs is an important step in protecting public health. By understanding which infections are the most dangerous, hospitals and health officials can work to prevent them and find better ways to treat patients. Anyone with questions about infections or antibiotic use should speak with a doctor or healthcare provider.
Sources: The Washington Post
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