by Kate Barton

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has now released a list organizing super-bacteria by threat level with the hopes to raise awareness and knowledge of this growing issue. A ‘superbug’ is a strain of bacteria that has become resistant to antibiotic drugs. People infected with these superbugs are becoming harder if not impossible to treat with current antibiotics. AP Bio teacher Mr. Reinhart says, “It’s definitely something to be concerned about.”

Some of the “urgent threats” on the CDC’s list are Clostridium difficile (C-Diff), Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The whole list is posted on the Center for Disease Prevention and Control’s website.

There have already been outbreaks of super-bacteria. In the past year, about two million people have been infected with and over twenty-three thousand people have died from drug-resistant bacteria. Although most infections are contracted is healthcare settings, drug-resistant bacteria can be found almost anywhere. Some preventative measures that everyone can partake in to keep from contracting or breeding superbugs are to wash your hands regularly, to not abuse drugs, and to take appropriate drugs until an illness in gone.  Bellbrook High School junior Jake Steuver says, “I’m worried for the future.”

“Threat Report 2013.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Sept. 2013. Web. 13 Sept. 2013. http://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/threat-report-2013/index.html

Falco, Miriam. “CDC sets threat levels for drug-resistant ‘superbugs.’” CNN. CNN, 17 Sept. 2013. Web. 18 Sept. 2013. http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/16/health/antibiotic-resistant-infections-cdc/index.html