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What is NDM-1 Superbug
ND Metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM-1) is a gene that makes bacteria resistant to antibiotics of the carbapenem family. It encodes a type of beta-lactamase enzyme called acarbapenemase. Bacteria that carry this gene are often referred to by news reporters as "superbugs." There are currently no new drugs in the research pipelines that aim to stop NDM-1. Currently, some strains of E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are known carriers of the gene, but the gene can be transmitted from one strain of bacteria to another through horizontal gene transfer.
This new superbug NDM-1 which is resistant to almost every antibiotic is poised to spread and wreak havoc across the world unless new antibiotics are developed. The bug has already killed many thousands in India and Bangladesh and it seems that only now that it directly threatens Western populations are serious attempts starting to find an anti-biotic that works against it.
Origin of Superbug NDM-1 and What Countries are currently Infected
The gene was named after New Delhi, the capital city of India, as it was first described by Yong et al. in 2009 in a Swedish national who fell ill with an antibiotic-resistant bacterial infection that he acquired in India. The infection was unsuccessfully treated in a New Delhi hospital and after the patient's repatriation to Sweden, a carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae strain bearing the novel gene was identified. The authors concluded that the new resistance mechanism "clearly arose in India, but there are few data arising from India to suggest how widespread it is."
It has reportedly been found in Pakistan, India and most other Asian countries and has been brought from that region to Europe by people undergoing hospitalization in those countries. In several cases people went there to undergo cosmetic surgery at a lower cost, getting infected during the procedure and bringing the resistant bacteria back to their country of origin.
As of June 2010, there were three reported cases of Enterobacteriaceae isolates bearing this newly described resistance mechanism in the US, the CDC stated that "All three U.S. isolates were from patients who received recent medical care in India." However, US experts have stated that it is unclear if this strain is any more dangerous than existing antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which are already common in the USA.
A study by a multi-national team was published in the August 2010 issue of the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases. This examined the emergence and spread of bacteria carrying the NDM-1 gene. This reported on 37 cases in the United Kingdom, 44 isolates with NDM-1 in Chennai, 26 in Haryana and 73 in various other sites in Pakistan and India. The authors' analysis of the strains showed that many carried NDM-1 on plasmids, which will allow the gene to be readily transferred between different strains of bacteria by horizontal gene transfer. All the isolates were resistant to multiple different classes of antibiotics, including beta-lactam antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, and aminoglycosides, but most were still susceptible to thepolymyxin antibiotic colistin.
SuperBug NDM-1 Symptoms
NDM-1 Symptoms and Klebsiella Pneumoniae
One strain of bacteria linked to NDM-1 in the UK has been Klebsiella, a bacteria in the gut which contains the superbug NDM-1. Klebsiella pneumoniae symptoms include sudden onset, of high fever and hemoptysis (currant jelly sputum). Klebsiella pneumoniae is a common gram-negative bacteria seen worldwide. It is also known for causing urinary tract infections, nosocomial pneumonia, and intraabdominal infections.E. Coli and NDM-1 Symptoms
NDM-1 which is found in the E. Coli bacteria may be the cause of the cases whch show symptoms of urinary tract infections. E. Coli is the leading cause of urinary tract infections outside of hospitals. Antibiotic-resistant E. Coli may also be responsible for cases of fatal pneumonia and other infections.How to prevent NDM-1 from Spreading
Doctors advise the best means of NDM-1 prevention is to provide adequate cleaning and sanitizing of all areas is the best means of preventing further spread of the superbug. Those displaying NDM-1 symptoms should insure the areas they are in are sanitized to prevent spread to those around them. Hospitals and doctors are under advise to stay on top of the cleanliness issue.After the St Mark's Hospital in Harrow, London announced that they had treated a NDM-1 positive patient , they stated they contained the infection by isolating the patient and then allowing only a single staff member per shift to treat the patient. The staff member had to wear a long sleeved disposable gown and gloves and when the patient was released the room was fumigated. No other cases were reported at that hospital.
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