The number of infections by drug-resistant, “nightmare bacteria” rose by almost 70 percent between 2019 and 2023 in the United States, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country’s national public health agency.

Driving the increase are drug-resistant bacteria with the so-called “NDM gene” (New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase), researchers said. Bacteria with the NDM gene were once considered “exotic” and were linked to only a small number of patients, mostly outside the US.

Only one type of antibiotics, known as carbapenems, have been known to work against some “nightmare bacteria”. However, the presence of NDM-gene bacteria can now render these entirely ineffective as well.

What has the report on drug-resistant bacteria found?

While absolute

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