2023-07-03 02:02:10
Title: Alarming Spread of Extremely Resistant Bacteria in Ukrainian Clinics Raises Global Concerns
Subtitle: Bacterial pathogens in Ukraine show unprecedented levels of antibiotic resistance, emphasizing the urgent need for international support
Date: July 3, 2023
Author: Nadja Podbregar
Scientists have issued a warning about the rapid spread of highly resistant bacteria in clinics across Ukraine. A recent study conducted by researchers from Lund University in Sweden reveals that the country has become a hotspot of antibiotic resistance. The situation has worsened since the annexation of Crimea in 2014, and the ongoing war since February 2022 has exacerbated the problem.
The study, led by microbiologist Oleksandr Nazarchuk from the University of Vinnytsia, involved collecting samples from 141 patients in three hospitals between February and September 2022. The majority of patients were seriously injured soldiers and civilians with war-related injuries, along with eight children suffering from pneumonia. The evaluation of these samples revealed an alarming number of multi-resistant pathogens, some of which were resistant even to newly developed enzyme-inhibiting agents.
The researchers found that 80 percent of the pathogens isolated in the Ukrainian clinics were immune to the combination of active ingredients ceftazidime-avibatam, which is specifically used against bacteria that are already resistant to other antibiotics. Furthermore, nearly ten percent of the samples showed resistance to the reserve antibiotic colistin, which is administered only in life-threatening situations. Shockingly, six percent of the samples contained bacteria that were resistant to all tested antibiotics, an unprecedented level of bacterial resistance, according to the research team.
The gram-negative bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, categorized by the World Health Organization as one of the most dangerous multi-resistant germs, displayed an exceptionally broad spectrum of resistance in the Ukrainian samples. Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited 81 to 100 percent resistance to five out of the six antibiotics tested. Alarmingly, 24 percent of the samples also showed resistance to colistin.
These findings have raised concerns about the impact of the war in Ukraine on the healthcare system, which is already under immense pressure. Limited resources and difficulties in maintaining infection prevention and control have led to favorable conditions for the spread of resistant pathogens. Therefore, international medical aid and support are urgently required.
Dr. Kristian Riesbeck, the lead researcher, emphasized the need to closely monitor and control the situation in Ukraine to prevent the further dissemination of these highly resistant bacteria. Failure to do so could have severe consequences not only for Ukraine but also for the entire European region.
The healthcare crisis in Ukraine serves as a stark reminder that antibiotic resistance presents a global challenge. Further research, international collaboration, and sustained efforts are crucial to combating this growing threat and preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations.
Source: Lund University]
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