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Source: http://www.webmd.com/news/20100810/extremely-drug-resistant-infections-spreading-fast
Extremely Drug-Resistant Infections Spreading Fast
Common Bacteria Are Picking Up New Antibiotic-Resistant Gene
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
July 10, 2010 -- Is this the beginning of the end of the antibiotic era?
NDM, a gene that makes germs impervious to many antibiotics, is spreading worldwide among bacteria in the gut that most commonly cause infections. The gene lives on a DNA strand called a plasmid that is easily swapped among different species of harmful gut bacteria.
The gene evolved in India -- NDM stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase -- but is widespread in Pakistan and Bangladesh as well. It's been isolated all across the U.K., prompting a national alert. It's also popped up in the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Australia, and the Netherlands.
The bad news comes from a sobering report by Timothy R. Walsh, PhD, professor of infection, immunity, and biochemistry at Wales' Cardiff University, and colleagues.
"This heralds a new and darker dawn in infections," Walsh tells WebMD. "If we looked in India a few years ago we would not have seen this. But in three or four years it has gone into 1% to 4% of the [gut] bacteria population in India. That is incredible. It came from nowhere..."
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Source: http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/1866700?UserKey=
Warning as new superbug arrives in UK
Travel ?may aid spread of bacteria?
Published: 11/08/2010
WORRY: UK patients have been found with the new superbug.
More Pictures
A NEW drug-resistant superbug has arrived in UK hospital wards, scientists warned today...
...it was also found in 37 patients from the UK, who travelled to India or Pakistan for medical procedures including cosmetic surgery...
...The gene was mostly found in e.coli, a common cause of urinary tract infections and pneumonia, which is highly resistant to antibiotics.
The scientists said it could be easily copied and transferred between different bacteria, suggesting ?an alarming potential to spread and diversify among bacterial populations?...
Read more: http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/1866700?UserKey=#ixzz0wIadEUPL
Extremely Drug-Resistant Infections Spreading Fast
Common Bacteria Are Picking Up New Antibiotic-Resistant Gene
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD
July 10, 2010 -- Is this the beginning of the end of the antibiotic era?
NDM, a gene that makes germs impervious to many antibiotics, is spreading worldwide among bacteria in the gut that most commonly cause infections. The gene lives on a DNA strand called a plasmid that is easily swapped among different species of harmful gut bacteria.
The gene evolved in India -- NDM stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase -- but is widespread in Pakistan and Bangladesh as well. It's been isolated all across the U.K., prompting a national alert. It's also popped up in the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Australia, and the Netherlands.
The bad news comes from a sobering report by Timothy R. Walsh, PhD, professor of infection, immunity, and biochemistry at Wales' Cardiff University, and colleagues.
"This heralds a new and darker dawn in infections," Walsh tells WebMD. "If we looked in India a few years ago we would not have seen this. But in three or four years it has gone into 1% to 4% of the [gut] bacteria population in India. That is incredible. It came from nowhere..."
***************
Source: http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/1866700?UserKey=
Warning as new superbug arrives in UK
Travel ?may aid spread of bacteria?
Published: 11/08/2010
WORRY: UK patients have been found with the new superbug.
More Pictures
A NEW drug-resistant superbug has arrived in UK hospital wards, scientists warned today...
...it was also found in 37 patients from the UK, who travelled to India or Pakistan for medical procedures including cosmetic surgery...
...The gene was mostly found in e.coli, a common cause of urinary tract infections and pneumonia, which is highly resistant to antibiotics.
The scientists said it could be easily copied and transferred between different bacteria, suggesting ?an alarming potential to spread and diversify among bacterial populations?...
Read more: http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/1866700?UserKey=#ixzz0wIadEUPL