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New superbugs spreading from South Asia: study
This came from Yahoo
Plastic surgery patients have carried a new class of superbugs resistant to almost all antibiotics from South Asia to Britain and they could spread worldwide, researchers reported Wednesday.
Many hospital infections that were already difficult to treat have become even more impervious to drugs thanks to a recently discovered gene that can jump across different species of bacteria.
This so-called NDM-1 gene was first identified last year by Cardiff University's Timothy Walsh in two types of bacteria -- Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli -- in a Swedish patient admitted to hospital in India.
Worryingly, the new NDM-1 bacteria are resistant even to carbapenems, a group of antibiotics often reserved as a last resort for emergency treatment for multi-drug resistant bugs.
In the new study, led by Walsh and Madras University's Karthikeyan Kumarasamy, researchers set out to determine how common the NDM-1 producing bacteria were in South Asia and Britain, where several cases had turned up.
Checking hospital patients with suspect symptoms, they found 44 cases -- 1.5 percent of those screened -- in Chennai, and 26 (eight percent) in Haryana, both in India.
They likewise found the superbug in Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well 37 cases in Britain, where several patients had recently travelled to India or Pakistan for cosmetic surgery.
"India also provides cosmetic surgery for other Europeans and Americans, and it is likely that NDM-1 will spread worldwide," said the study, published in the British medical journal The Lancet.
NDM-1 was mostly found in E. coli, a common source of community-acquired urinary tract infections, and K. pneumoniae, and was impervious to all antibiotics except two, tigecycline and colistin.
In some cases, even these drugs did not beat back the infection.
Crucially, the NDM-1 gene was found on DNA structures, called plasmids, that can be easily copied and transferred between bacteria, giving the bug "an alarming potential to spread and diversify," the authors said.
"Unprecedented air travel and migration allow bacterial plasmids and clones to be transported rapidly between countries and continents," mostly undetected, they said.
The emergence of these new drug-resistant strains could become a serious global public health problem as the major threat shifts toward a broad class of bacteria -- including those armed with the NDM-1 gene -- known as "Gram-negative", the researchers warn.
"There are few new anti-Gram-negative antibiotics in development, and none that are effective against NDM-1," the study said.
NDM-1 stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1.
Johann Pitout from the University of Calgary in Canada said patients who have medical procedures in India should be screened for multi-resistant bacteria before they receive care in their home country.
Plastic surgery patients have carried a new class of superbugs resistant to almost all antibiotics from South Asia to Britain and they could spread worldwide, researchers reported Wednesday.
Many hospital infections that were already difficult to treat have become even more impervious to drugs thanks to a recently discovered gene that can jump across different species of bacteria.
This so-called NDM-1 gene was first identified last year by Cardiff University's Timothy Walsh in two types of bacteria -- Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli -- in a Swedish patient admitted to hospital in India.
Worryingly, the new NDM-1 bacteria are resistant even to carbapenems, a group of antibiotics often reserved as a last resort for emergency treatment for multi-drug resistant bugs.
In the new study, led by Walsh and Madras University's Karthikeyan Kumarasamy, researchers set out to determine how common the NDM-1 producing bacteria were in South Asia and Britain, where several cases had turned up.
Checking hospital patients with suspect symptoms, they found 44 cases -- 1.5 percent of those screened -- in Chennai, and 26 (eight percent) in Haryana, both in India.
They likewise found the superbug in Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well 37 cases in Britain, where several patients had recently travelled to India or Pakistan for cosmetic surgery.
"India also provides cosmetic surgery for other Europeans and Americans, and it is likely that NDM-1 will spread worldwide," said the study, published in the British medical journal The Lancet.
NDM-1 was mostly found in E. coli, a common source of community-acquired urinary tract infections, and K. pneumoniae, and was impervious to all antibiotics except two, tigecycline and colistin.
In some cases, even these drugs did not beat back the infection.
Crucially, the NDM-1 gene was found on DNA structures, called plasmids, that can be easily copied and transferred between bacteria, giving the bug "an alarming potential to spread and diversify," the authors said.
"Unprecedented air travel and migration allow bacterial plasmids and clones to be transported rapidly between countries and continents," mostly undetected, they said.
The emergence of these new drug-resistant strains could become a serious global public health problem as the major threat shifts toward a broad class of bacteria -- including those armed with the NDM-1 gene -- known as "Gram-negative", the researchers warn.
"There are few new anti-Gram-negative antibiotics in development, and none that are effective against NDM-1," the study said.
NDM-1 stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1.
Johann Pitout from the University of Calgary in Canada said patients who have medical procedures in India should be screened for multi-resistant bacteria before they receive care in their home country.
I agree Margy :). you would be surprised how many people have never heard of it, and how many doctors would prefer to go straight to Nystatin before trying something much safer and far superior (IMHO).
do you know I thought they still used gentian violet, works like a miracle , but yuck that color, good stuff though .
So do I. I am a total germophobe. My daughter got MRSA staph at the hospital and she and the kids and her husband fight MRSA all the time. No one in my house has ever gotten it, though. I keep the grandkids several times a week and give them bleach baths. That is a must with MRSA. Bleach baths at least 2x per week kill all the staph on the skin. Not a lot of bleach. Just a cup in a whole bath. Also, I steam clean at least once a week and add bleach. High dusting is also very important to keeping down sickypoo germs. That's where all the really bad germs go. Also, we keep clorox disinfecting wipes handy to wipe the toilet seat before and after use. I know the high dusting is crucial because I worked in a hospital. Last, but not least. Clean fingernails, and no scratching, ever. Yeah, I have a photo of my grandson with gentuian violet. It's a wonder drug and only costs about $2.00. Can't be beat.
Granny: it's amazing, isn't it? It works like a charm..and I get a tickle out of the purple mouth every time, although my linens don't find it as amusing.
A::: You would definitely remember if you used Gentian...when I say bright purple I mean BRIGHT PURPLE, lol.
Hand washing definitely is the best line of defense...except that over the years (and especially since the birth of my first child) I've become an OCD hand washer...I do it about 30x a day, to the point where my hands are always dried and cracking.
A::: You would definitely remember if you used Gentian...when I say bright purple I mean BRIGHT PURPLE, lol.
Hand washing definitely is the best line of defense...except that over the years (and especially since the birth of my first child) I've become an OCD hand washer...I do it about 30x a day, to the point where my hands are always dried and cracking.
Ryder had thrush. I had to swab his mouth a few times a day...but I don't think it was an antibiotic. Now I will need to ask his Dr. what it was....I just can't remember the name. I know it wasn't called Genetian Violet though....hmmm...now I am curious.
I love Gentian Violet! I keep it around for the grandkids! Yay! Hand washing is the first line of defense. That's about it, and to stay out of the hospital if possible.
You're right Kay, I didn't say it correctly when I said "antibiotic immunity". I know a lot of people who do that as well, and I always try to politely hint that they should take the antibiotic for the full course, but people don't get it I guess.
Gentian Violet is actually this external antiseptic that has been used for generations...it's bright purple and stains EVERYTHING, but it only takes a few mouth/nipple swabs with a dipped Q-tip to cure most thrush outbreaks...it's controversial because sometimes it can cause oral irritation, but I used it with my daughter at my pediatrician's recommendation and it cured her thrush in a matter of 3 days (as opposed to the average thrush course, which usually lasts from 17-30 days!)...my son's has been a little more resistant, but it's getting better quickly whereas Nystatin takes at least a week in most cases.
I'm curious about this super bug...do we as a race have any more options yet? I mean I know sooner or later they'll develop stronger antibiotics (which is scary in itself)...but until our science and research has caught up with the outbreaks, is there anything that can be done to control these buggers? I know they were having a hard time with MRSA, although outbreaks of that seem to have declined recently because of increased awareness.
Gentian Violet is actually this external antiseptic that has been used for generations...it's bright purple and stains EVERYTHING, but it only takes a few mouth/nipple swabs with a dipped Q-tip to cure most thrush outbreaks...it's controversial because sometimes it can cause oral irritation, but I used it with my daughter at my pediatrician's recommendation and it cured her thrush in a matter of 3 days (as opposed to the average thrush course, which usually lasts from 17-30 days!)...my son's has been a little more resistant, but it's getting better quickly whereas Nystatin takes at least a week in most cases.
I'm curious about this super bug...do we as a race have any more options yet? I mean I know sooner or later they'll develop stronger antibiotics (which is scary in itself)...but until our science and research has caught up with the outbreaks, is there anything that can be done to control these buggers? I know they were having a hard time with MRSA, although outbreaks of that seem to have declined recently because of increased awareness.
The thing about resistance is that it is "cross resistance" is the problem meaning that it is not the specific person who becomes resistant to a medication but that the bug becomes resistant and it then happens in everyone. It isn't really taking antibiotics frequently (although it isn't great to do) as it is taking them inappropriately. If you need it, you need it. And eradicating the bacteria is important to do. When cross resistance is at its worst is when someone gets a prescription and takes it for only 4 out of the 10 days it is prescribed. That is when bacteria will start to mutate to outsmart the bug. I know so many people that do that. I know because they'll get sick again and say, "I have antibiotics left over from last time . . ." Um, you aren't suppose to. And moms do it all the time because kids hate taking them and fight it so they stop when the kid feels better in 48 hours (but the bacteria is still there).
But it is good also not to take them for every little thing either unless it is indicated for the situation.
Ashelen, I never heard of gentian violet. There are a lot of natural and holistic alternatives out there--------- good reminder to look into those! I hate giving my little guys medicine in general!
But it is good also not to take them for every little thing either unless it is indicated for the situation.
Ashelen, I never heard of gentian violet. There are a lot of natural and holistic alternatives out there--------- good reminder to look into those! I hate giving my little guys medicine in general!
You know before I read the last half of your paragraph Jez I was going to say that, actually...that they're screwing themselves over. I HATE taking antibiotics for that reason, but my kidneys don't function at 100% so I tend to get UTIs because of sluggish flow...I can flush with water half the time and cure it, but I have to take antibiotics way more than I would like...and this concept of a super bug is terrifying to me.
My son has thrush and everyone keeps asking why he's not taking Nystatin...because gentian violet works just as well (when used properly) and doesn't build up an antibiotic immunity!
My son has thrush and everyone keeps asking why he's not taking Nystatin...because gentian violet works just as well (when used properly) and doesn't build up an antibiotic immunity!
My hypochondriac bosses fall within this category. Every time they are sick they run to the doctor and demand antibiotics. If they don't get it they find another doctor. They have no clue that they are building immunities to these medications and when they will really need them they won't work.
I totally agree. I would be willing to spend more on meat without all the artificial death just the same as I won't eat beef unless it's 93/7. you really have to pay hard to eat leaner meat, but the proof is in the cast iron skillet when you cook 80/20 side by side with 93/7. The skillet with the 80/20 is half full of unusable grease.
Hahaha. That's a durned good idea! Such a smart girl!
In my personal experience, Dr.'s are getting much better at not prescribing them unnecessarily...however I do remember as a child it seemed they were prescribed for everything...from the common cold to tummy flu's. And I do agree that many will kick up a huge fuss when not given them if they request. So many still believe they are the miracle cure for all. I still worry about them in our food. We try to buy meat that does not contain them, however that is so much more expensive. Antibiotics certainly have their place and have saved lives...but I don't want them in my meat thanks.
My opinion is that patients prompt the doctor to give them and tend to get upset when they've paid their copay and hear they just have a cold. They WANT the drugs quite often. Docs tend to give them to those patients. A good doctor hands them some patient ed on why an antibiotic isn't appropriate for a virus and sends them on their way. But a lot of folks will scream up a storm about that. This is where I think that they should package up a nice looking placebo.
Yeah. A little Ecoli to go with your pneumonia, dear? Dr.s do tend to give them out, don't they? Patients don't mind taking them, either.
True, that!
well I had to run eat a sandwich after reading grannys post, I knew a Doctor a few years back on some kind of a social stance, she gave her daughter anti biotics ,before the child got sick, in fact I would say the child was on anti biotics permanently.I am hoping that as everyone knows whats happening with this superbug there is a race to find something that will stop it, after all its all more money for big pharma ...
Well, first let me say that there is no need to "avoid" antibiotics when they are indicated to treat what you are sick with. Issues of resistance come about when people use them for such things as viruses. We go to the doctor and we want something NOW to make us better. Docs give us an antibiotic. We don't need it as a virus will not respond to an antibiotic. Then the virus turns into a secondary infection . . . and we think the antibiotic didn't work. Then we start a stronger one and we decide we feel better after two days so we don't finish the prescription. Then the bugs have a chance to outsmart us and mutate to something that is harder to treat next time.
My husband would be one to start our kids on an antibiotic every time they sniffle with a virus. I've looked all this stuff up about 10 times now.
So, that doesn't mean to not take antibiotics but to understand when the difference between viruses and infections. And doctors should not give into patients and send them home with advil and cough medicine instead of an unnecessary (except to appease their patient) antibiotic.
But, when you need an antibiotic-------- take your antibiotics folks. Just take the full dose and for all the days.
Interesting that it is in "plastic surgery patients" from those two countries that are the primary source. Makes you wonder what they are using or what their procedures are. Is it abdominal surgery as the super bug is gram negative?
Well, among other things-------- super bugs fascinate me and terrify me at the same time.
My husband would be one to start our kids on an antibiotic every time they sniffle with a virus. I've looked all this stuff up about 10 times now.
So, that doesn't mean to not take antibiotics but to understand when the difference between viruses and infections. And doctors should not give into patients and send them home with advil and cough medicine instead of an unnecessary (except to appease their patient) antibiotic.
But, when you need an antibiotic-------- take your antibiotics folks. Just take the full dose and for all the days.
Interesting that it is in "plastic surgery patients" from those two countries that are the primary source. Makes you wonder what they are using or what their procedures are. Is it abdominal surgery as the super bug is gram negative?
Well, among other things-------- super bugs fascinate me and terrify me at the same time.
Oh, I agree. I so love me some cornbread torn up in a nice, tall aluminum glass and covered in buttermilk. Like to eat that with a fork. Biscuits and gravy wouldn't be anything without milk. Ohhhhhh. I am ever getting hungry for some down home cookin. Fried chicken, greens, fried okra, and chicken livers. Nummy! I guess it's just a matter of time before we will all be saying goodbye to each other because of this new superbug. Until then, there's nothing we can do about it, so eat, drink, and be merry. Tomorrow isn't a given like it once seemed it was. If the bug don't get us, the floating island will.
They are so difficult to avoid aren't they. Pretty much any animal product...milk, etc. is going to contain them. Something like this was inevidible I guess.
I agree with y'all. Also, I try never to use antibiotics on myself because they have warned of this. I don't eat chicken with antibiotics, either, but it is in our beef and pork without any alternatives. Feed lots! Feeding cows corn instead of grass. I'll bet that's not helping their immune systems, and most assuredly ours.Pumping every living food animal with steroids and antibiotics. It's a good argument for going vegan, but I like my bacon and sausage and just meat in general. That's why I'm bigfatgrannyof5 instead of healthygrannyof5, I suppose. :)
These superbugs are scary. From what I understand about them, they keep evolving, able to elude any antibiotic. Apparantly part of the problem is our overuse of antibiotics, making them less effective. Very very scary stuff.
I saw something like this on the news today, it was in India and Pakistan,it was quite scary,as no anti biotic was effective .
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