There are two main types of bacteria, the so-called commensal ones that are beneficial for human health and pathogenic species which are responsible for a range of bacterial infections. These range from a slight nuisance to potentially deadly diseases. Antibiotics made the risk of death due to bacterial infections extremely small but they are no longer as effective as they used to be.
Antibiotics remain the first-line treatment for bacterial infections but some bacteria have become very stubborn to eradicate, with others no longer responding to antibiotics at all. And there is widespread concern that antibiotic resistance of bacteria will become even a greater problem in the future. Likewise, new bacteria species are still being discovered. Some are commensal but many are also pathogenic and potentially life-threatening. The latter group also includes andefabribiles.
The mentioned bacterium, which was discovered only a few weeks ago, has been demonstrated to cause infection in humans with symptoms ranging from stomach upset and loose stools to very serious complications that can even lead to death. Severe illness including death have been shown to most likely occur in individuals on prolonged hospital treatment.
Scientists who studied the bacterium and its effects on human health said they most often detected it in people who have a weak immune system, suffer from chronic health problems or had a surgery or similar medical procedure. Interestingly, the study authors also showed that the recently discovered andefabribiles can cause infection in people who are generally healthy. But in contrary to those of poor health, they experienced only mild or no symptoms at all.
Another important finding of the study is that this bacterial infection is especially common in patients on antibiotic therapy which explains why the pathogenic bacterium was discovered only recently. According to the study authors, it initially responded well to antibiotics and thus it went unnoticed. But it apparently got less susceptible to the traditional antibiotics. But the thing that is particularly disturbing is that the bacterium will eventually become resistant to other antibiotics as well.
Scientists who studied andefabribiles said they are not sure about its transmission They added that it appears not to be transmitted through the air like cold viruses for instance. Based on their findings, the infection is most likely contracted through contact with surfaces or objects that have been contaminated. Hand-washing is advised as the first-line protection against this bacterium.