A team of researchers led by Osaka University examined the dissemination of colistin-resistant bacteria among residents of rural communities in Vietnam to find that the prevalence of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli (CR-E) in the intestines was extremely high, at about 70 percent. This Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a non-pathogenic bacterium, so the residents have no symptoms, but the detection of this type of E. coli in developed countries has been infrequently reported. It was revealed that the prevalence of colistin-resistant bacteria in residents in Vietnam was extremely high and that colistin-resistant bacteria, whose clinical impact is a great concern in hospital settings, were spread in local communities in the developing country faster than expected.
The team's research results were published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
Colistin, an old antibiotic discovered in 1950, kills or inhibits the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is one of the few critical antibacterial drugs for treating multidrug-resistant bacteria and is listed on the WHO Essential Medicines List (EML) as a last-resort antibiotic.
Colistin-resistance is mostly related to chromosomal mutations. Although its frequency was low, a certain level of colistin-resistance was observed. However, since colistin-resistance caused by mutations was not transferred to other bacterial species, it was not considered problematic. However, a transmissible colistin resistance gene (mcr) was discovered in China in 2015 and the possibility of the transfer of colistin-resistance to other bacterial species was shown, becoming a global concern. This presents the potential danger that carriage of mcr1 gene in pathogens with other resistance genes will produce super drug-resistant bacteria called "Nightmare bacteria." This bacteria exhibits resistance to all antibiotics, even to the last-resort antibiotic colistin, posing a great threat in infectious disease treatment.
Drug-resistant strains are spread in livestock and livestock products in developing countries. This group has pointed out that meat contains colistin-resistant bacteria because a large amount of colistin has been added to livestock food in Vietnam.
Thus, the group investigated the prevalence of colistin-resistant bacteria in Vietnam and revealed that the dissemination of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli (CR-E) in the faecal microbiota of residents was extremely high (70.4% of residents) and that CR-E had the transmissible colistin resistance gene (mcr).
First author Yoshimasa Yamamoto says, "CR-E carriers don't cause health problems immediately, but it's clear that the number of refractory infections for which antibiotics don't work will increase, which will become a great menace to clinical practice. In this borderless society, drug-resistant bacteria quickly spread beyond national and regional borders, so it is necessary to strengthen international surveillance systems and promptly take preventative measures."
The article, "Wide dissemination of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli with the mobile resistance gene mcr in healthy residents in Vietnam" was published in Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy at DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dky435
Source: Osaka University
Dear Helpdesk: Working in a Toxic Health Care Environment
March 28th 2024Dear Helpdesk is your steadfast companion, offering life coaching and workplace advice from 2 seasoned IPs for some of your most challenging real-life situations. Let us help you navigate the intersection between work and life, guiding you to navigate the dynamic world of infection prevention with confidence and grace. This article is on handling a toxic health care environment.
Product Locator: Spring and Early Mother's Day Gift Guide for Infection Prevention Personnel
March 27th 2024Whether it's a spring holiday, birthdays, or no reason at all, infection prevention personnel love to give and receive gifts that help at the end of a stressful day. Infection Control Today® offers some gift ideas for infection prevention personnel and their families.
Catching Up With Vangie Dennis, AORN 2022-2023 President at AORN 2024
March 26th 2024Infection Control Today (ICT) had the privilege of catching up with Vangie Dennis, MSN, RN, CNOR, CMLSO, at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses' (AORN’s) International Surgical Conference & Expo 2024. As the former president of AORN and an esteemed figure in perioperative services, Vangie Dennis shared insights into her recent endeavors and the exciting new chapter she's embarked upon.
How To Optimize Your Time Management Strategies for the Busy Infection Preventionist
March 25th 2024Is your calendar resembling a chaotic masterpiece of overlapping tasks? Join the club of infection preventionists striving to balance responsibilities. Dive into proven strategies from a fellow infection preventionist to reclaim control of your time, streamline tasks, and boost productivity effectively. This is an IP Lifeline article.