New Asian Superbug Spreads To Uk

[Raistlin]

International travel and medical tourism helped the spread of drug-resistant bacteria that could lead to the end of antibiotics, scientists have warned.

A new gene, NDM-1, emerged which allows bacteria to be highly resistant to almost all antibiotics, the scientists said.

NDM-1 spread in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. But it was also found in 37 patients from the UK, who travelled to India or Pakistan for medical procedures including cosmetic surgery, according to an article published in The Lancet.

"The potential of NDM-1 to be a worldwide public health problem is great, and co-ordinated international surveillance is needed," Timothy Walsh of Cardiff University and his international colleagues wrote.

The gene was mostly found in E Coli, a common cause of urinary tract infections and pneumonia, which is highly resistant to antibiotics. The authors said it could be easily copied and transferred between different bacteria, suggesting "an alarming potential to spread and diversify among bacterial populations".

The paper said several of the UK patients had travelled to India or Pakistan for surgical procedures within the past year. The authors wrote: "India also provides cosmetic surgery for other Europeans and Americans, and it is likely NDM-1 will spread worldwide."

Study co-author Dr David Livermore, director of antibiotic resistance monitoring at the Health Protection Agency, said: "The findings of this paper show that resistance to one of the major groups of antibiotics, the carbapenems, is widespread in India.

"This is important because carbapenems were often the last 'good' antibiotics active against bacteria that already were resistant to more standard drugs. We have now also identified bacteria with this type of resistance - NDM - in around 50 patients in the UK.

"Most, not all, had previously travelled to the Indian subcontinent, and many had received hospital treatment there. International travel gives a great potential for spread of resistant bacteria between countries. Few antibiotics remain active against these bacteria."

A Department of Health spokesman said: "We are working with the Health Protection Agency on this issue. The HPA alerted the NHS in January and July last year to be vigilant about these bacteria and take appropriate action where necessary."

[Bizarra]

What's the fuss about?

We're all going to die from something, sooner or later :lol2:

[Raistlin]

Some sooner than later....

[Bizarra]

Some sooner than later....

" It could be you!" and may I be forgiven for saying that. I don't like to tempt fate :shutit: Raist, if you wake up dead in the morning of Friday 13th don't hold it against me

If you wake up alive, definitely don't hold it against me

[Raistlin]

I don't think I'll wake up dead... I'm immortal

[jw67]

You mean immoral

[Raistlin]

You mean immoral

That too...