Antibiotics are not the only culprits of superbugs

2024-01-12 12:40:50
A study by researchers at the Wellcome Foundation’s Sanger Institute, the University of Oslo and the University of Cambridge has challenged conventional perception by demonstrating that the rise in treatment-resistant bacteria over the past 20 years is not exclusively attributable to the use of antibiotics. The results of this research, published in ‘The Lancet Microbe’, reveal that, although increased drug consumption has contributed to the spread of superbugs, it is not the only driving factor. The research team carried out a thorough genetic comparison of bacteria, analyzing more than 700 new blood samples along with almost 5,000 previously sequenced bacterial samples. The main focus was to understand the factors that influence the spread of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli (E. coli). The study notes that the increase in antibiotic use is linked to an increase in resistant bacteria in some cases, but the researchers confirmed that this varies depending on the type of broad-spectrum antibiotic used. Furthermore, they discovered that the success of antibiotic resistance genes depends on the genetic profile of the bacteria that carry them. Related News standard No An effective antibiotic against a multidrug-resistant superbacteria that worries the WHO R. Ibarra Antibiotic resistance has become an urgent threat to global public health in recent decades E. coli bacteria, a common cause of infections worldwide, has been particularly affected by antibiotic resistance, especially multidrug resistance (MDR). In the UK, more than 40% of E. coli bloodstream infections are resistant to a key antibiotic used in the treatment of serious illnesses in hospitals. Rates of antibiotic resistance in E. coli vary globally, highlighting the complexity of the problem. For example, the resistance rate to another antibiotic commonly used to treat urinary tract infections caused by E. coli ranged from 8.4% to 92.9% depending on the country. The results of this study challenge previous perceptions and suggest that antibiotic resistance cannot be attributed solely to the use of these medications. Anna Pöntinen, co-senior author and visiting scientist at the Wellcome Foundation’s Sanger Institute, emphasized the importance of this large-scale study, made possible by systematic national surveillance of bacterial pathogens in the United Kingdom and Norway. Related News standard No The WHO warns that the misuse of antibiotics undermines their effectiveness RI In 2023, 23,303 people died in Spain in the 30 days after being diagnosed with infections caused by multi-resistant bacteria. For Julian Parkhill, co-author from the University of Cambridge, antibiotics They are modulators in the success of antibiotic-resistant E. coli, not the only cause. Comprehensive analysis showed that the influence of these varies by country and area, underscoring the need to understand the genetic profile of bacterial strains in each environment. Genomics For his part, Jukka Corander, lead author of the Sanger Institute of the Wellcome Foundation and the University of Oslo, points out that antibiotic resistance is a global public health challenge and stressed the importance of continuing to use genomics to understand the underlying drivers of bacterial success. These findings point to the need for continued research to identify the multiple factors driving the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which will lead to the development of more effective public health interventions to curb the spread of treatment-resistant infections. Understanding more about the strains that can outcompete antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli may lead to new ways to help stop its spread. For example, attempts to increase the number of non-resistant, non-harmful bacteria in an area, the researchers conclude.
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