The Truth Behind the Dreaded 'Superbug'

It triggered nationwide fear and panic about an impending post-antibiotic era.

— -- What’s the real story behind the notorious “superbug” that triggered nationwide fear and panic about an impending post-antibiotic era?

In this audio segment, infectious disease specialist Dr. Pritish Tosh weighs in on the rare strain of E. coli bacteria that infected one Pennsylvania woman. The bacteria was found to be resistant to a harsh and rarely-used antibiotic called colistin.

“We are increasingly seeing situations where people are getting infected with bacteria that are resistant to many if not all of the antibiotics [we currently use],” Tosh said.

While antibiotic resistance is a serious and growing issue, scientists in the U.S. have not yet discovered a bacteria that is resistant to all antibiotics. So, how do we prevent this monster myth from becoming a reality?