Gram-negative bacteria are drug-resistant super-bugs to watch out for

A new crop of drug-resistant super-bugs is in our midst, and experts believe that they could rival the deadly super-bug MRSA. A new report from the Infectious Diseases Society of America says these super-bugs are creeping onto the radar in hospitals across the country, and our ability to fight them is next to none . . . A gram-negative bacterial infection killed Brazilian model Mariana Bridi da Costa last month. She had her hands and feet amputated and kidneys removed to try to stem the infection's spread before she died. Gram-negative bacteria are also responsible for a spate of infections among returning Iraq war vets. We've talked a lot about MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphlyococcus aureus) and the core issue there is that very few antibiotics can treat it. The biggest concern with gram-negative bacteria is, there are virtually no drugs to effectively treat them. One drug, Colistin, is the only option that sometimes works, but it is incredibly toxic - can cause kidney damage.