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In the modern day, more and more bacteria are becoming resistant to widely used antibiotics. As time has gone on the search for new and improved antibiotics has lessened, leaving us in a situation where we have ESKAPE strains. These are just some of the bacteria that are immune to once largely effective antibiotics. While this is hopefully a fun test, we hope you are also able to learn something about our antibiotic crisis and perhaps inspire you to research into it further. This quiz was made with the help of Cyrus Jenkins, Pam Koga, Justin Tamashiro, Milo Sherifi, Ali Ahmed, and Bhuvana Kotnana.

Which ESKAPE Strain Are You?

Which of these sounds worse?

Which of these looks better to you?

How about these? Which looks better?

We're getting closer. Which of these looks better?

Which of these speaks to you the most?

Hmmmmm, where would YOU feel safest?

Which makes you the most calm?

Almost there. Which picture shows how you feel in a position of leadership

Which bacteria looks cooler to you?

 Favorite letter?

Last Question, I promise. Where would you rather go on vacation?

The opportunist. While happy with where you are in life, you are ready to pounce on any opportunity that presents itself. People may not always see you as a big player, but you are just waiting for the right time to take your spotlight. E-faecium is a bacterial strain that has become more problematic as vancomycin resistance spread. This vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) is the cause of many in-hospital acquired illnesses. E-Faecium is a gram positive bacteria that can either live commensally in the GI tract or become pathogenic, possibly leading to meningitis or endocarditis, which is an infection of your heart. Take this to heart, be CAREFUL. E-faecium is just one of the six most common antibiotic resistant bacteria. As more bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, the risk of such infections skyrockets and knowing about the problem is the first step in coming up with a solution.

E-faecium

The Hipster.  You are never satisfied with the latest, mainstream trends. You go above and beyond and are constantly looking for new ways to express yourself. A social media influencer, through and through. A trend setter with a large fanbase in your own right, you always manage to leave a lasting impression on anyone who happens to come across your path. S-aureus is highly prevalent and is exceptionally notorious for its ability to rapidly acquire resistance to antibiotics, especially in global epidemic waves. Its resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics is of major concern. Hospital/Clinical acquired MRSA (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus) infections are largely responsible for mortality and morbidity. It can very easily spread through contact, so epidemics are frequent. Glycopeptide antibiotics (like Vancomycin) are often employed to combat MRSA strains, however overprescription and widespread use has caused a decrease in its efficiency. Various VISA (vancomycin intermediate-resistant S. aureus) and hVISA (heteroresistant VISA) strains have recently been reported. It is highly advised that hospitals engage in periodic surveillance studies, alongside a revision of antibiotic prescriptions to prevent the spread of these multiresistant pathogens.

S-aureus

The adaptor. Often you go with the flow, you are not picky and often may act as mediator for friend groups. The world needs people like you! However, despite seeming to be the agreeable friend, you are feisty and stick by your morals. When circumstances arise where you must defend what you believe in,  you eagerly rise up to the occasion. Much like K-pneumoniae, a bacterium that is facultatively anaerobic (can survive with and without oxygen). K-pneumonia can be normally found in the GI tract of mammals, soil, plants, and surface waters. And ever the mediators, they are harmless in intestines. Feisty K-pneumoniae need the right circumstances to become infectious, such as moving to an area that isn’t the GI tract, but they won’t normally cause infection in healthy persons. They are difficult to destroy as some produce the enzyme carbapenemase, which renders antibiotic carbapenems ineffective.

K-pneumoniae

The loner. Mysterious in your ways, many people are oblivious to who you are or where you came from. While you are by your lonesome, much like the lone wolf you are confident in your ability and competent enough to get the job done. Your lone wolf mentality also helps you overcome obstacles and persevere much longer than people expect of you. A. baumannii natural habitat is still unknown but is able to thrive in hospital surfaces, which attributes to the increasingly important issue of nosocomial infections hospitals are facing. Its impressive survival rate is thought to be derived from its ability to produce biofilm on artificial surfaces. While not harmful to a healthy individual, its growth on hospital surfaces is dangerous to the abundance of patients whose immune system is compromised. Some possible infections that are caused by A. baumannii are meningitis, bloodstream infections, wound and surgical site infections such as necrotizing fasciitis,  to name a few. They are capable of producing beta-lactamases and acquiring resistance genes.

A-baumannii

The Adventurer. You are adventurous! You don’t like being tied down and prefer to take every opportunity you can to see what the world has to offer. You love visiting new places, especially ones with aesthetic nature and water bodies. You love roasting marshmallows while you camp out in the woods and the petrichor left behind after a heavy pour dampens your surroundings .You’re characteristics are akin to that of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, a gram negative, rod shaped bacteria with unipolar motility. It is capable of growing in nature, soil, water in hospital sinks, respiratory equipment in ICU’s. It is sweet, has a sickly odor and has a blue-green color. It’s ideal growth conditions are in damp environments and temperatures of 89.6 F. It causes Urinary Tract Infections, Ventilator Associated Pneumonia, Otitis Externa, Keratitis, commonly isolated from patients with Cystic Fibrosis and is a major threat to severe burn patients. Treatment for this infections caused by this bacteria includes a first line therapy of Piperacillin +Tazobactam, group 3b cephalosporins, carbapenems, aminoglycosides.

P-aeruginosa

The Troublemaker- Do you like to cause chaos in someone’s day? Do you like to see the world burn? Did you want one of the hottest authentic Mexican restaurants to almost shut down due to your name? Then you my friend are Escherichia Coli. You are mostly harmless in most states, but you can be a real thorn in someone's behind. You can survive extreme conditions for a good amount of time. The biggest thing is that You like E.coli a misunderstood. You biggest transgressions are used to defy you. Most E.coli strains are completely harmless, but its strains that Shiga toxin-producing cause a whole mess of problems in the gut such as vomit, Diarrea, stomach pain, etc.

E-species

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Which ESKAPE Strain Are You?

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