NDM-1 Facts
* Questions and Answers: For Q&As related to NDM-1 visit Mahalo Health Answers http://www.health-qna.com/1
* E. Coli: NDM-1 gene has been found inside the E. Coli bacteria http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDi...2
* Klebsiella Pneumoniae: Known as a bacteria hosting NDM-1 http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDi...3
* Common symptoms: Urinary tract infections, blood infections, diarrhea
* Bacteremia: Means bacteria in blood, may lead to blood infections or sepsis. http://www.medicinenet.com/sepsis/articl...4
NDM-1 is the gene responsible for the newest superbug. NDM-1 genes can live inside different bacteria and is resistant to currently available antibiotics.
http://omniphysicians.com/2010/08/10/ndm-1-a-new-global-threat/5 NDM-1 stands for New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1.http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100811/wl_uk_afp/healthdiseasebacteriaantibioticstravelindiapakistan6
NDM-1 symptoms are reported to be associated with the bacteria it attaches to. The currently known bacterias hosting this gene are E.Coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The majority of the patients treated to date who are positive for NDM-1 were those with urinary tract infections, bacteremia, or pneumonia.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/PublicHealth/216367
Although only 50 cases have been noted in the United Kingdom, it is feared the spread will be global as the superbug has been associated with travel to India and Pakistan. Many travel to these counties for tourism as well as for low cost cosmetic procedures.
http://omniphysicians.com/2010/08/10/ndm-1-a-new-global-threat/8 In the U.S. none of the three known cases of NDM-1 bacteria were associated with the medical cosmetic travel seen in the UK.http://www.webmd.com/news/20100810/extremely-drug-resistant-infections-spreading-fast?page=29
There is a fear that the NDM-1 could jump to even more bacteria that are already resistant to even more antibiotics, making the NDM-1 affected bacteria impossible to kill by known methods. Drug resistance is transferred from one bacteria to another by plasmids, genetic material that move from one organism to another and reproduces, passing along the resistance. The NDM-1 is resistant to the number one antibiotic used for hard to treat infections and emergencies, the Carbapenems. The key aspects of containment by the Health Protection Agency include isolation of the sources and increased screening.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2009/news2609.htm10
A new study of NDM-1 by Dr David Livermore, director of antibiotic resistance monitoring at HPA, notes that the NDM-1 gene is wide spread in India.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/NewsCentre/NationalPressReleases/2010PressReleases/100811resistance/11
The researchers noted that the popular press in the UK has made calls to the population to have corrective surgery done in India to decrease costs; however, doing this may be both life threatening as well as increasing costs in the long run. As a result of this study Dr. Livermore sees the NDM-1 gene as a potential worldwide health threat.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2810%2970143-2/abstract12
He also recommends a coordinated international surveillance.
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099%2810%2970143-2/abstract13
The Department of Health in the UK, on the advice of the Health Protection Agency, has issued a National Resistance Alert 3 notice. They recommend that microbiologists be suspicious of isolates with resistance or reduced susceptibility to carbapenems and suspect isolates should be sent to ARMRL for further investigation.
http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2009/news0409.htm#enterora14
No comments:
Post a Comment