Scientists discover antibiotic-resistant ‘doomsday bacteria’
It’s the medical emergency we’ve all been fearing — and it’s going to be worse than anyone ever imagined.
For years I’ve been warning you how our overexposure to antibiotics is creating deadly superbugs that resist even the most powerful drugs.
But now Chinese researchers say the other shoe has finally dropped. They’ve discovered terrifying strains of new “doomsday bacteria” that no antibiotics can kill — and that could cause a global epidemic.
It’s a matter of time before these bacteria make landfall in America, if they haven’t already. And it’s important to take three life-saving steps — starting today — that can keep you and the people you love safe.
That’s the conclusion that a group of Chinese scientists made in a new study that is dropping jaws all around the world.
And trust me — calling it a breach is putting it nicely. Because it looks a lot more like the door has been kicked in.
Maybe for good.
You see, these researchers from Southern Agricultural University in Guangzhou were studying antibiotic resistance in chickens and pigs, looking for the kinds of superbugs I’ve been telling you about.
But what they discovered instead is a frightening gene called MCR-1 that can actually “hop” to just about any deadly bacteria out there.
When it does, it makes those bacteria — E. coli, C. diff., and just about any others you can imagine — absolutely invincible to antibiotics.
And not just any antibiotics, either. It turns out that when bacteria are infected with MCR-1, even a powerful class of antibiotics called polymyxins can’t stop them.
These are the “last line of defense” drugs that doctors and hospitals are using right now on superbugs that other antibiotics can’t kill.
MCR-1 can create actual doomsday bacteria that can spread an epidemic. And it looks like these bacteria have been growing and multiplying right under our noses.
The researchers examined pork and chicken products being sold in markets across four provinces in China and discovered the rogue gene in 15 percent of the raw meat samples. And when they analyzed bacterial cultures from hospital infections, they found MCR-1 there, too.
Now, as I said, all the bacteria strains studied so far have been from China. But they’re not going to stay there.
Dr. Timothy Walsh from the University of Cardiff said it’s a matter of “when, not if” we start seeing MCR-1 bacteria everywhere. And that means there are three things you should be doing right now to keep yourself and your family safe.
Step #1: Remember we all have a role to play in keeping new superbugs from developing and spreading. To limit your exposure to antibiotics, only accept prescriptions when you really need them and make sure all the meat you buy is antibiotic-free.
Step #2: Be very careful when handling raw meat or poultry. Wash your hands well and don’t rinse raw products in the sink. A tiny drop of water is all that’s needed to spread dangerous bacteria around your kitchen.
Step #3: Stock up on colloidal silver. It’s the most powerful natural antibiotic that Mother Nature has ever given us, and studies have proven that it can safely kill just about any type of bacteria.
When it comes to MCR-1 superbugs, the mainstream is going to be playing catch-up for years. They don’t even fully understand the problem yet.
But taking these few simple precautions can help keep these doomsday bacteria from turning into a life-threatening health emergency for you or the people you care about.
Sources:
“New “superbug” gene found in animals and people in China” Reuters, November 19, 2015, scientificamerican.com
