LA County Tallies New ‘Super Bug’ Cases

Another type of drug-resistant bacteria is spreading in California, officials say. This “super bug” is carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP). The infection spreads from person to person. It resists almost all antibiotics. The Los Angeles County health department released a report on the illness March 24. It said 356 cases were reported from June to December 2010. About 42% were in hospitals that provide long-term care. About 6% were in nursing homes and the rest in general hospitals. Symptoms vary but often resemble pneumonia. The infection can be deadly. But the health department did not find out how many people died or recovered. That may be the topic for a future study. An official said this may be the first time a health department has required reporting of such cases. The New York Times News Service wrote about the report.