2023-12-09 00:18:45
The family of the infectious diseases epidemiologist Steffanie Strathdee went through difficult times as her husband, Tom Patterson, fought for his life against a superbacteria mortalwhile doctors faced a great challenge because antibiotic treatments They seemed to have no effect.
After months of anguish, doctors confirmed to the epidemiologist Steffanie Strathdee that her husband was packed with bacteria, so his chances of survival were minimal. However, the specialist did not give up and she was determined to save the life of her life partner.
“I said, ‘Honey, we’re running out of time. I need to know if you want to live. I don’t even know if you can hear me, but if you can hear me and you want to live, please squeeze my hand.’ And I waited and waited,” he continued, with a broken voice. “And all of a sudden, he squeezed really hard. And I thought, ‘Oh, that’s great!’ And then I thought, ‘Oh, gosh! What am I going to do?'”he revealed during an interview.
Photo: Instagram @chngin_the_wrld
What is a superbug?
Las Superbugs are resistant strains of bacteria to the treatments antibiotics, as well as other medications used to treat the infections they can cause. According to iInformation from the Mayo Clinic Medical Institute, There are some resistant bacteria that adapt to the drugs designed to eliminate them, ensuring their survival.
What bacteria are resistant to antibiotics?
The drug resistance in bacteriaknown as antibiotic resistance, It depends mainly on the ability of bacteria to develop genetic mutations that allow them to survive the action of chemicals. antibiotics. Excessive or inappropriate use of these medications favors the development and spread of resistant bacteria.
Between the superbacteria more resistant to antibiotics the following are found:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA or MRSA): a bacteria that is resistant to many common antibiotics, including methicillin and others related to penicillin. Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE): Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis are examples of bacteria which have developed resistance to vancomycin, one of the strongest antibiotics available. Clostridium difficile multidrug resistant (CDRM): C. difficile is a bacteria that can cause serious intestinal infections and is often resistant to several antibiotics. Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to carbapenems (KPC): This type of bacteria is resistant to carbapenems, an important class of antibiotics used in hospitals. Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-Ab): Acinetobacter baumannii is a bacteria that has developed resistance to many antibiotics, which which makes it difficult to treat.Multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR-Pseudomonas): Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known for its ability to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics, which makes it dangerous in nosocomial infections, that is, in hospitals.
Photo: iStock
How did epidemiologist Steffanie Strathdee save her husband’s life?
Although the epidemiologist Steffanie Strathdee She did not mention in an interview what type of bacteria her husband was fighting against, she did reveal that in the midst of desperation she found a ray of hope in a little-known therapy: bacteriophagesnatural viruses that feed on bacteria.
According to the specialist, she decided to seek support from the scientific community specialized in bacteriophages throughout the country with the aim of locating these rare viruses capable of fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria that threatened the life of her husband Tom.
For the unproven treatment to be an option, they needed approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the careful purification of the bacteriophages to avoid damage. In just three weeks, the treatment was administered and it worked.
Photo: Instagram @chngin_the_wrld
Despite the challenges and aftermath Tom faces, the story inspired an increase in scientific research on bacteriophage therapy throughout the world, where this therapy is expected to complement the antibiotics or improve its effectiveness.
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