New class of superbug could spread worldwide, doctors say

A superbug, known as NDM-1 has been identified in 37 residents of the United Kingdom after undergoing surgery in India and Pakistan.. NDM-1 is a new gene which allows virtually any type of bacteria to become a superbug, and scientists have been warning the public that this type of drug resistance could spread worldwide. (What is going on?)

NDM-1 is already widespread in India and experts warn that the booming medical tourism industries in India and Pakistan could fuel a increase in antibiotic resistance, as medical patients import bugs from the region. The superbug has also been detected in Australia, Canada, the United States, Sweden and the Netherlands. (this seems to have come out of nowhere)

In an article published on Wednesday, in the journal "Lancet Infectious Diseases", doctors reported finding a new gene, called NDM-1. The gene alters bacteria, making them resistant to nearly all known antibiotics. It has been seen largely in E. coli bacteria, the most common cause of urinary tract infections, and on DNA structures that can be easily copied and passed onto other types of bacteria. (this sounds serious)

"The potential of NDM-1 to be a worldwide public health problem is great, and coordinated international surveillance is needed," the authors wrote.

"We are potentially at the beginning of another wave of antibiotic resistance, though we still have the power to stop it," said Christopher Thomas, a professor of molecular genetics at the University of Birmingham. If you enjoyed the article, feel free to subscribe.

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