Scientists have warned that the spread of a drug-resistant
bacteria could spell the end of antibiotics.
The NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase) gene, which allows
bacteria to be very resistant to all drugs, is said to have been
spread through international travel and medical tourism.
The new gene was spread through Pakistan, Bangladesh and
India.
But is has also been discovered in 37 people in the UK who
travelled to Pakistan or India for cosmetic surgery and other
procedures, an article published in The Lancet Medical Journal
said.
"The potential of NDM-1 to be a worldwide public health problem
is great, and co-ordinated international surveillance is needed,"
Timothy Walsh of Cardiff University and his international
colleagues wrote.
The gene was mostly found in E Coli, a common cause of urinary
tract infections and pneumonia, which is highly resistant to
antibiotics.
"Their spread underscores the need for good infection control in
hospitals both in the UK and overseas, and the need for new
antibiotic development."
A Department of Health spokesman said that controls need to
remain strong to ensure there are no
hospital infections and to prevent spread. He added that
hospitals need to "consider whether patients have recently been
treated abroad and send samples to HPA for testing.
"So far there has only been a small number of cases in UK
hospital patients. The HPA is continuing to monitor the situation
and we are investigating ways of encouraging the development of new
antibiotics with our European colleagues."