Researchers have identified a second sample of E. coli in human sample in the U.S. containing the mcr-1 gene. This comes nearly six weeks after the first case of a 49-year-old woman from Pennsylvania with a urinary tract infection caused by E. coli was found carrying the gene, mcr-1. Mcr-1 is resistant to the antibiotic colistin, the … Continue reading Mcr-1 gene found in second human sample in the U.S.
Carbapenem
Drug resistance: The antibiotic red line of control
A much-needed public awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of misuse and irrational use of antibiotics was recently launched by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Called ‘Medicines with the Red Line’, it comes at a time when the consumption of antibiotics in India has increased sharply while the effectiveness of these drugs to … Continue reading Drug resistance: The antibiotic red line of control
Editorial: The superbug effect
Published in The Hindu on April 24, 2011 The discovery of the New Delhi mettallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) in 51 of 151 sewage samples and two of 50 drinking water samples taken from India's capital indicates that the superbug is present in the environment and is no longer a hospital-born infection. The study published online in The … Continue reading Editorial: The superbug effect
Superbug NDM-1: 2010 results confirmed by others
Published in The Hindu on April 14, 2011 If the first paper on NDM-1 superbug published last year created an uproar in India, the second paper published on April 7 created a storm. From denying to finally agreeing to investigate the presence of drug-resistant NDM-1 bacteria in hospitals and drinking water, the government appears to … Continue reading Superbug NDM-1: 2010 results confirmed by others
NDM-1 superbugs found in seepage, tap water
Published in The Hindu on April 7, 2011 Gram-negative bacterial strains with NDM-1 (New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase-1) gene, also called the superbug, have now been detected in drinking water and seepage water samples collected from several sites in New Delhi. Seepage samples were collected from water pools found in streets or rivulets. The findings have been … Continue reading NDM-1 superbugs found in seepage, tap water
Editorial: Superbug NDM-1 threat
Published in The Hindu on August 16, 2010 Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae strains resistant to carbapenem, a powerful antibiotic, and one of the last lines of treatment for infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria, are becoming more widespread in India. The resistance arises on account of a new gene that codes for metallo-beta-lactamase enzyme. The drug-resistant bacterial gene, … Continue reading Editorial: Superbug NDM-1 threat