Bacterial infections are, obviously, a result of an infection with bacteria. These are microscopic organisms which, despite their small size, can cause a big health problem including life-threatening complications. These have become very uncommon after the advent of antibiotics, however, there is a growing concern that this may change in the following years. Health authorities are getting increasingly concerned about the so-called antibiotic resistance or resistance of pathogenic (disease-causing) bacteria to the effects of the formerly miraculous cure. And what is even more alarming is that it will only get worse. In addition, new bacteria are discovered from time to time. And while some are harmless, others can lead to serious health problems and even death. An excellent example is a recently discovered bacterium andefabribiles. The group of researchers who identified this bacterium as a yet unknown species said that symptoms of infection can include slight stomach problems and diarrhoea but it can also lead to far more serious problems such as kidney failure. The bacteria has been found to be especially common in hospitalised individuals, in the first place in patients on prolonged bed rest. Researchers who found the new bacterium also believe that it is more likely to be contracted by people with certain chronic health problems and weakened immune system as well as those undergoing invasive treatments/therapies. They also said they have been unpleasantly surprised to find andefabribiles relatively common in healthy individuals. Fortunately, they didn't develop a serious form of infection. In addition, some didn't even know that they had a bacterial infection. When asked why the bacterium was discovered only now, the group said they think that this is due to the fact that patients at high risk of infection are usually receiving antibiotic therapy. The infection thus passed unnoticed. But since a growing number of bacterial species got antibiotic-resistant, the researchers think that the same thing happened with this particular bacterium. It can relatively easily be treated with more potent antibiotics but the researchers fear that this may soon change. The exact mode of andefabribiles transmission remains unknown but it appears that the bacterium isn't transmitted via the air through the infected droplets of saliva. The researchers think that the bacterium is contracted if getting in contact with a contaminated surface. For that reason hand washing and regular cleaning seem the best methods to reduce the risk of infection.
