Bugged by the superbug

Curb the misuse of antibiotics and provide better sanitation

Even as the nation’s capital is once again gripped by dengue and the usual post-monsoon viral fevers, the Indian government has finally acknowledged the presence of the dreaded drug-resistant bacteria, or superbug NDM-1, in the country. The situation may not be alarming yet, claims the government of Delhi, where studies have detected bacteria carrying antibiotic-immune protein (gene) called New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1, or NDM-1, in the intensive care units (ICUs) of some leading hospitals. However, the potential danger to human health is truly enormous. Though unfairly named after New Delhi, since it was traced simultaneously at several places in Britain, India and Pakistan, its discovery had caused global scare, and for good reasons. If allowed to multiply and spread, the superbug can render most of the infection-fighting drugs – including the most powerful class called carbapenems – ineffective. Besides, doctors fear this gene can jump from one bacterium to another and can, therefore, lead to infections that can be contagious. Moreover, this superbug is believed to thrive well in bacteria like Escherichia coli (or E coli), commonly found in human gut, and Klebsiella, which causes pneumonia and other kinds of lung infections. This allows it to spread through excreta as well as mouth secretions of the infected people.

 

The scare is growing day by day since the infection has already begun to spread, having been traced in several countries such as the US, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands, besides India, Pakistan and the UK, where it was originally spotted. Nearly 400 cases have been reported in the UK media. India is especially at risk since the conditions here are ripe for rapid proliferation and dispersion of the superbug. If the infection could reach the hospital ICUs, usually most assiduously guarded from a sanitary and phyto-sanitary angle, imagine the situation elsewhere. The mortality rate owing to the breakdown of drugs is likely to be higher among people facing greater risk of infection because of their weak immune system, such as those who have undergone a surgery or suffer from life-threatening diseases. Understandably, there are grave economic consequences for the country’s tourism, especially health tourism. Though the source of the superbug has not been clearly established, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics and poor sanitation remain two important concerns. Addressing these two challenges is key to getting a grip on the problem. Better neighbourhood hygiene and segregation of drinking water and sewer pipes are necessary. Besides, curbing over-the-counter sale of antibiotics and its reckless prescription by doctors is important. Antibiotics have done humanity much good since their discovery in the 1940s, but their misuse would do greater harm.