HE ALTH
‘Hypervirulent’ superbug detected in 16 countries
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WORDS NICOLETTA LANESE
Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, a dangerous strain of which has been detected in over a dozen countries
Dangerous new strains of a ‘hypervirulent’ superbug have been
found in 16 countries, including the
US, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced in a new report. The superbug, known as hypervirulent
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(hvKp), is a type of drug-resistant bacteria that can cause rapidly progressing deadly infections, even in people with healthy immune systems. In general,
K. pneumoniae
can be found in the environment, for example in soil and water, as well as in the upper throat and gastrointestinal tract of various animals, including humans. The classic version of the germ is a big problem in healthcare settings, where it can contaminate medical equipment and cause opportunistic infections, especially in people with weak immune systems. It’s known to cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections and the nervous-system infection meningitis.