What are superbugs?
Superbugs are microbes that become resistant to medicine. This makes infections caused by superbugs very difficult to treat. Superbugs can spread quickly and pose a serious health threat to all of us. The latest research shows that superbugs were linked to an estimated 5 million deaths worldwide in 2019. This is predicted to rise to 10 million deaths a year by 2050 – or 1 death every 3 seconds
Why are superbugs on the rise?
Antibiotics are being routinely overused and misused in humans, animals, and plants, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)
Other reasons for the worldwide spread of superbugs include:
- poor access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities (WASH)
- poor infection prevention and control
- poor access to quality medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics
- poor access to antimicrobial stewardship education and training
- poor awareness and knowledge
Additionally, new antibiotics are not being developed fast enough to keep up with increasing rates of resistance
Glossary of terms
Acquired Resistance
When bacteria develop the ability to resist antibiotics through mutation or gene uptake
Antibiotic
A type of medicine used to treat bacterial infections
Antibiotic Stewardship
Efforts to use antibiotics responsibly to avoid resistance
Antimicrobial
Any substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
When microorganisms, like bacteria, no longer respond to medicines meant to kill them
Background Resistance
The natural, low-level resistance to antibiotics found in a population of bacteria
Bacteriophage Therapy
Using viruses that infect and destroy bacteria as a treatment
Broad-spectrum Antibiotics
Antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of bacterial species
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
A group of bacteria that have become resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, which are often used as a last resort
Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamases (ESBLs)
Enzymes produced by some bacteria that break down and resist beta-lactam antibiotics
Horizontal Gene Transfer
The transfer of genes, including those for resistance, between bacteria in a non-reproductive manner
Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI)
Infections that patients get while receiving treatment in a hospital or healthcare facility
Human Biome
The collection of all the microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, living in and on the human body
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
A type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin
Microbe
A microscopic organism, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi
Multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Bacteria that are resistant to multiple types of antibiotics
Mutation
A change in the DNA of bacteria that can result in antibiotic resistance
Narrow-spectrum Antibiotics
Antibiotics that are effective against specific types of bacteria
One Health
An approach that recognizes the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected
Pathogen
Any microorganism, such as bacteria or viruses, that can cause disease
Prophylactic Use
The use of antibiotics to prevent infection before it occurs
Selective Pressure
Environmental factors that favour the survival of antibiotic-resistant bacteria over non-resistant ones
Superbug
Bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics, making them very difficult to treat
Surveillance
Monitoring and tracking patterns of antimicrobial resistance
Therapeutic Use
The use of antibiotics to treat existing infections
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)
A type of bacteria that has developed resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin
WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene):
Practices related to providing clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene to prevent disease spread
Acquired Resistance
When bacteria develop the ability to resist antibiotics through mutation or gene uptake
Antibiotic
A type of medicine used to treat bacterial infections
Antibiotic Stewardship
Efforts to use antibiotics responsibly to avoid resistance
Antimicrobial
Any substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
When microorganisms, like bacteria, no longer respond to medicines meant to kill them
Background Resistance
The natural, low-level resistance to antibiotics found in a population of bacteria
Bacteriophage Therapy
Using viruses that infect and destroy bacteria as a treatment
Broad-spectrum Antibiotics
Antibiotics that are effective against a wide range of bacterial species
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)
A group of bacteria that have become resistant to carbapenem antibiotics, which are often used as a last resort
Extended-spectrum Beta-lactamases (ESBLs)
Enzymes produced by some bacteria that break down and resist beta-lactam antibiotics
Horizontal Gene Transfer
The transfer of genes, including those for resistance, between bacteria in a non-reproductive manner
Hospital Acquired Infection (HAI)
Infections that patients get while receiving treatment in a hospital or healthcare facility
Human Biome
The collection of all the microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, living in and on the human body
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
A type of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that is resistant to the antibiotic methicillin
Microbe
A microscopic organism, such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi
Multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Bacteria that are resistant to multiple types of antibiotics
Mutation
A change in the DNA of bacteria that can result in antibiotic resistance
Narrow-spectrum Antibiotics
Antibiotics that are effective against specific types of bacteria
One Health
An approach that recognizes the health of humans, animals, and the environment are interconnected
Pathogen
Any microorganism, such as bacteria or viruses, that can cause disease
Prophylactic Use
The use of antibiotics to prevent infection before it occurs
Selective Pressure
Environmental factors that favour the survival of antibiotic-resistant bacteria over non-resistant ones
Superbug
Bacteria that are resistant to multiple antibiotics, making them very difficult to treat
Surveillance
Monitoring and tracking patterns of antimicrobial resistance
Therapeutic Use
The use of antibiotics to treat existing infections
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)
A type of bacteria that has developed resistance to the antibiotic vancomycin
WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene):
Practices related to providing clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene to prevent disease spread