Development of Resistance to Anti-microbial
Microbes developing resistance to antibiotics and anti-microbial is a disturbing trend.
Recently, it has been reported by "The Lancet" that a bacteria called NDM-1 (New Delhi Metallo-beta-Lactamase-1) super bug is showing resistance to powerful antibiotics, potentially threatening the world with its capacity to infect.
The bacteria was seen in a Swedish patient operated in India. He got infected with it. Some people are preferring India for health tourism for variety of reasons. It may so happen these resistant bacteria may eventually spread world wide.
Betalactamase is an enzyme that destroys the betalactum ring of antibiotics, which depend on it for destroying bacteria. The resistance to antibiotics gradually develop when there is irrational use, sub-optimal use and rampant use.
The bacteria becomes acclimatised to the antibiotic, through a process of plasmid transfer. The first antibiotic, penicillin is no more effective in various diseases to which it had worked as wonder drug.
Cephalosporin group of antibiotics depend on the betalactum for their activity, and are mostly become toothless in front of these super bugs. At present some strains of Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella Pneumoniae are carrying this enzyme.
Sometime back a report was published that bacteria are becoming resistant to floor disinfectants. This is an important cause of hospital acquired cross infection. It is cased by use of disinfectants in an inadequate or sub-optimal dose.
Now-a-days, the speed at which the antibiotics are being developed are also becoming ineffective in the same speed. We have to become more careful in the using these life saving drugs by taking precautions to follow more sterile procedures. Use the resources reasonably and in adequate dose to save life.
Follow Technorati