Europe is facing an increasing threat of the proliferation of carbapenem-resistant superbugs, powerful antibacterial drugs of last resort.

Recently, a whole series of antibiotic resistance warnings from official health authorities around the world have appeared, warning that in the future, very simple infectious diseases may not respond to treatment.

Excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics has led to the growth and spread of infections caused by resistant strains of microorganisms, and experts are particularly concerned about the pathogens resistant to carbapenems, the class of antibiotics currently in use. more powerful.

The share of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant pathogens has increased sharply in the past 4 years, especially in southern Europe, although almost all European countries have reported such a problem, reported the European Center. disease prevention. and control - ECDC).

The most serious cases are infections of the bloodstream, however, resistant microorganisms can also cause serious respiratory and urinary problems.

ECDC data show that the proportion of bloodstream infections caused by strains resistant to carbapenems Klebsiella pneumoniae, one of the most common infectious agents in hospital patients, was d '' around 5% in 2012 in 5 countries - Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Romania and Slovakia. In 2009, these strains were only isolated in Greece and Cyprus.

The ECDC reports that another serious problem is the spread of Acinetobacter spp. Resistant to carbapenes, which are responsible for more than 25% of infections in 8 of the 18 reporting countries.

Since 2009, the problem of treating patients with carbapenem-resistant infections has become increasingly common in hospitals, and doctors are forced to revert to old and highly toxic antibiotics.

In addition to the need for a much more reasonable use of antibiotics, official authorities are also urging pharmaceutical companies to conduct research to find new antibacterial drugs active against Gram-negative pathogens.

In recent years, pharmaceutical companies have lost interest in the development of new antibiotics and have moved to more cost-effective research options for drugs, such as the treatment of cancer and various chronic diseases.

One of the leaders in the field, Pfizer, completed research on new antibiotics at a Connecticut research center in 2011, which intrigued many scientists. Today, the company's research is again focusing on antibacterial drugs and vaccines. Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly have also left the research field, and only a few new antibiotic companies have remained, including GlaxoSmithKline and Merck & Co.