A deadly antibiotic-resistance strain of bacterium has infected hundreds and killed dozens of patients in hospitals across Israel being treated for other illnesses.
The story first broke Tuesday night on the Channel 1 Mabat TV program. The bacterium is not new to Israeli hospitals, although this latest strain, Klebsiella pneumoniae, appeared in recent months. The bacterium attacks hospital patients being treated for other illnesses, and has infected mostly those who have been hospitalized for over 25 days.
Several new strains have appeared in recent years that have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Antibiotics have been entirely ineffective in treating this most recent strain, which has spread rapidly in hospitals around the country.
Normally found in the mouth, skin and intestines, Klebsiella pneumoniae is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. The germ often causes hospital-acquired urinary tract and burn wound infections, but is also known to cause bacterial pneumonia. Its identification is complicated and can involve a large number of tests.
Patients with weak immune systems, such as the elderly, are particularly at risk of contracting an illness associated with the bacterium, which is found in contaminated medical instruments and in feces.
Health Ministry officials have not released census figures on the epidemic, but according to infectious diseases specialist Dr. Galia Rahav, 130 patients at Sheba Hospital have become infected and of those, a third have died. All were hospitalized for other conditions. Health Minister Yaakov Ben-Yizri (Pensioners) said that the problem has been known for several weeks, but was not publicized in order not to cause public panic.
Director-General Professor Avi Yisraeli told reporters that a team of medical experts has been set up to address the situation.
“This is not the first instance of a bacteria evolving into a strain that does not respond to antibiotics,” said Yisraeli Tuesday night. “It is happening abroad as well,” he said, noting that the phenomenon is happening more frequently due to the overuse of antibiotics in industrialized nations.
Only very ill patients in hospitals are at risk, stressed Yisraeli.
The group will be led by epidemiologist Professor Yehuda Carmeli, of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. One of the main purposes of the team will be to identify and isolate patients who have become infected with the bacterium.
The story first broke Tuesday night on the Channel 1 Mabat TV program. The bacterium is not new to Israeli hospitals, although this latest strain, Klebsiella pneumoniae, appeared in recent months. The bacterium attacks hospital patients being treated for other illnesses, and has infected mostly those who have been hospitalized for over 25 days.
Several new strains have appeared in recent years that have become increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Antibiotics have been entirely ineffective in treating this most recent strain, which has spread rapidly in hospitals around the country.
Normally found in the mouth, skin and intestines, Klebsiella pneumoniae is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. The germ often causes hospital-acquired urinary tract and burn wound infections, but is also known to cause bacterial pneumonia. Its identification is complicated and can involve a large number of tests.
Patients with weak immune systems, such as the elderly, are particularly at risk of contracting an illness associated with the bacterium, which is found in contaminated medical instruments and in feces.
Health Ministry officials have not released census figures on the epidemic, but according to infectious diseases specialist Dr. Galia Rahav, 130 patients at Sheba Hospital have become infected and of those, a third have died. All were hospitalized for other conditions. Health Minister Yaakov Ben-Yizri (Pensioners) said that the problem has been known for several weeks, but was not publicized in order not to cause public panic.
Director-General Professor Avi Yisraeli told reporters that a team of medical experts has been set up to address the situation.
“This is not the first instance of a bacteria evolving into a strain that does not respond to antibiotics,” said Yisraeli Tuesday night. “It is happening abroad as well,” he said, noting that the phenomenon is happening more frequently due to the overuse of antibiotics in industrialized nations.
Only very ill patients in hospitals are at risk, stressed Yisraeli.
The group will be led by epidemiologist Professor Yehuda Carmeli, of the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center. One of the main purposes of the team will be to identify and isolate patients who have become infected with the bacterium.