3. Klebsiella pneumoniae: Hospital Hazard
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a stealthy threat lurking in hospitals and intensive care units.
This bacterium can cause severe pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and wound infections, particularly among patients with weakened immune systems.
Its most alarming trait is resistance to carbapenems, a class of last-resort antibiotics.
Outbreaks are especially dangerous in healthcare settings, where the bacteria can rapidly spread between vulnerable patients.
The CDC warns that carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella infections are increasingly difficult to treat, underscoring the urgency of infection control and new drug development.