Superbugs: The global health crisis that threatens modern medicine

Summary

Tom Patterson's battle against a drug-resistant superbug, *Acinetobacter baumannii*, began during a 2015 vacation and led to a dire situation where he was placed on life support. His wife, epidemiologist Stephanie Strathey, refused to accept the prognosis of death and sought alternative treatments, discovering bacteriophage therapy. This century-old approach, which targets bacteria using viruses, ultimately saved Tom's life. Now, they advocate for phage therapy, establishing a dedicated center at UC San Diego, highlighting its potential in the fight against antimicrobial resistance—a growing global health crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tom Patterson was placed on life support after being infected by a drug-resistant superbug called *Acinetobacter baumannii*, which he contracted during a vacation in Egypt in 2015.
• 😀 Despite being told there were no treatments left, his wife Stephanie Strathdee, a renowned epidemiologist, refused to give up on him.
• 😀 Stephanie learned that Tom's condition had a 95% chance of being fatal, prompting her to seek alternative treatments.
• 😀 Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health crisis, exacerbated by the misuse of antibiotics in both healthcare and agriculture.
• 😀 The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared AMR a global health threat, with projections of 10 million annual deaths by 2050.
• 😀 The COVID-19 pandemic has further increased the risk of AMR due to inappropriate antibiotic prescribing practices for hospitalized patients.
• 😀 Stephanie discovered bacteriophage therapy, a century-old treatment that uses viruses to target and kill specific bacteria.
• 😀 Bacteriophages are abundant in nature, particularly in environments rich in bacteria, such as sewage and barnyards.
• 😀 After sourcing appropriate phages, Tom received treatment and remarkably woke up from his coma, marking a significant recovery.
• 😀 Tom and Stephanie have since advocated for phage therapy, leading to the establishment of the first dedicated phage therapy center in North America.

Q & A

What condition did Tom Patterson face during his illness?

Tom Patterson was infected with a drug-resistant superbug known as Acinetobacter baumannii, which left him with no effective treatment options.

How did Tom's illness begin?

Tom's illness started during a vacation in Egypt in 2015 when he experienced severe vomiting, initially thought to be food poisoning.

What is antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and why is it a concern?

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) refers to the ability of microorganisms to resist the effects of medications, making infections harder to treat. It is a growing concern due to the misuse of antibiotics, leading to increased mortality rates.

What led Stephanie to consider bacteriophage therapy for Tom?

Stephanie was desperate to find a solution after doctors informed her that Tom's condition was futile and there were no antibiotics left that would work.

What are bacteriophages, and how do they work?

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically target and kill bacteria. They are used in phage therapy as a potential treatment against antibiotic-resistant infections.

How did Stephanie source the phages for Tom's treatment?

Stephanie sourced phages from environments rich in bacteria, such as sewage and animal waste, which contain the specific phages that could target Tom's infection.

What was the outcome of the phage therapy for Tom Patterson?

Tom responded positively to the phage therapy, waking up from his coma after receiving the treatment, and has since recovered.

What role does Stephanie play in the fight against superbugs?

Stephanie co-directs the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics at the University of California, San Diego, advocating for phage therapy and researching alternatives to combat superbugs.

What alarming statistic is associated with drug-resistant infections by 2050?

It is projected that 10 million people could die each year from drug-resistant infections by 2050, although experts suggest this figure may be significantly underestimated due to the pandemic.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the issue of antimicrobial resistance?

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated antimicrobial resistance due to the over-prescription of antibiotics for COVID patients, leading to increased healthcare-acquired infections and antibiotic-resistant organisms.