We're Running Out of Antibiotics

[magical thyme]

5. He did not state that people are resistant to antibiotics.

He said that some patients are already in a post-antibiotic era. IOW, some *patients* are already infected with multi-drug and even completely resistant pathogens.

There are today some species of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaciae that are completely resistant to all antibiotics. If you are infected with one of those pathogens, the only treatment is supportive and the mortality rate is up to 50%.

CRE bacteria -- a family of germs called carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, which includes E. Coli. Some CRE bacteria are resistant to all existing antibiotics. The CDC reports more than 9,000 infections are contracted in hospitals and other health care settings from these bacteria. As many as 50% of the patients who are infected with CRE end up dying because there is nothing to help them fight the infections.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/16/health/antibiotic-resistant-infections-cdc/



Studies have shown 3% of C diff isolates with intermediate resistance to vanco. Also note the precautions mentioned about treating C diff with vanco: "Metronidazole is currently the first choice agent due to its lower potential for selecting vancomycin-resistant enterococci..."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1472208/

IOW, if you treat with vanco, then vanco-resistant enterococci gain flourish and can overwhelm other bacteria that are wiped out by it.