"ATLANTA, Ga. -- Drug-resistant germs called carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, are on the rise and have become more resistant to last-resort antibiotics over the past decade, warns a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

"These bacteria are causing more hospitalized patients to get infections that, in some cases, are impossible to treat, warns the CDC Vital Signs report for March 2013, issued today.

'CRE are nightmare bacteria. Our strongest antibiotics don’t work and patients are left with potentially untreatable infections,' said CDC Director Tom Frieden, M.D., M.P.H. 'Doctors, hospital leaders, and public health, must work together now to implement CDC’s 'detect and protect' strategy and stop these infections from spreading.'"

Environment News Service had the story March 5, 2013. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Deadly Bacteria That Resist Strongest Drugs Are Spreading" (New York Times) [3]

""Nightmare Bacteria," Shrugging Off Antibiotics, on Rise In U.S." (Reuters) [4]

"Deadly Bacterial Infections on the Rise" (Wall St. Journal) [5]

"CDC Officials Report Increase in Dangerous Superbugs in Hospitals; Urge Steps To Stop Spread" (AP) [6]