A strain of drug-resistant superbug is spreading a lot more than doctors originally thought.

  • Experts: Best prevention is to wash your hands

The superbug is known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, better known as CRE, and it tends to make its way through hospitals and long-term care facilities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it causes an estimated 9,300 infections and 600 deaths every year.

CRE are a family of germs that are hard to treat because they have high levels of resistance to antibiotics.

The study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that CRE generally spreads from patient to patient without any signs of symptoms.

These germs are found in normal human intestines and can spread outside the gut and cause serious infections, such as urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections and even pneumonia.

However, experts said those who care for the sick can prevent getting CRE by washing their hands and clean medical equipment.