Deadly Superbug Spreading in Chicago Nursing Homes
Deadly strains of bacteria resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics are quickly spreading in Chicago hospitals and nursing homes.
The “superbug,” is formed when common bacteria produce an enzyme known as KPC, which is resistant to a class of antibiotics doctors depend when other treatments fail.
KPC bacteria were first reported in North Carolina more than a decade ago. Now the germ is rapidly spreading in the Chicago area. The number of area facilities reporting KPC infections increased 42 percent in the last year, according to a new survey done by Rush University Medical Center and the Cook County Department of Public Health.
Elderly nursing home patients with weak immune systems face the greatest risk. More than three-quarters of patients that tested positive for the germ lived in a long-term care facility.
The high mortality rate associated with the drug-resistant bacteria is particularly troublesome. About 40 % of patients who contract KPC ultimately die. Last week, KPC-producing bacteria caused an outbreak in Brazil, killing at least 15 patients.
The bacteria live in the gut and often enter through intravenous catheters. They can be spread through contact with an infected person or the unclean hands of a health care worker. Researchers recommend better communication between long-term care facilities and hospitals when transferring infected patients.