Multidrug Resistant Bacteria: The Fatal Menace in Healthcare

2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-48
Author(s):  
Suma Sarojini
Keyword(s):  
Gene Transfer ◽  
Lateral Gene Transfer ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Rate Of Spread

The “antibiotic era” saw the discovery of a lot of wonder drugs which killed pathogenic bacteria without significantly harming the host. Never before had nature and sickness seemed so much within the control of mankind. The hopes soon died down with the reports of antibiotic resistant bacteria. The extensive overuse and misuse of antibiotics by human beings coupled with the alarming rate of spread of resistance genes to other bacteria by horizontal and lateral gene transfer has given the problem a larger dimension in that now we have superbugs resistant to a variety of antibiotics. People need to be informed of the dangers of antibiotics and educated on the forms of illnesses that antibiotics cannot treat.

scholarly journals Antibiotics, Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria, and Antibiotic Resistance Genes: Indicators of Contamination in Mangroves?

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1103
Author(s):  
Oskar A. Palacios ◽  
Jaime Raúl Adame-Gallegos ◽  
Blanca Estela Rivera-Chavira ◽  
Guadalupe Virginia Nevarez-Moorillon
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Emerging Contaminants ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystems

Multidrug-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes can be monitored as indicators of contamination in several environments. Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems, and although they can be resilient to the action of climate phenomena, their equilibrium can be affected by anthropogenic activities. Regarding the presence and persistence of multidrug-resistant bacteria in mangroves, it is common to think that this ecosystem can function as a reservoir, which can disperse the antibiotic resistance capacity to human pathogens, or serve as a filter to eliminate drug-resistant genes. The possible impact of anthropogenic activities carried out near mangroves is reviewed, including wastewater treatment, food production systems, leisure, and tourism. Adverse effects of antibiotic resistance genes or multidrug-resistant bacteria, considered as emerging contaminants, have not been reported yet in mangroves. On the contrary, mangrove ecosystems can be a natural way to eliminate antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and even antibiotic-resistant genes from the environment. Although mangroves’ role in decreasing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes from the environment is being proposed, the mechanisms by which these plants reduce these emerging contaminants have not been elucidated and need further studies. Additionally, further evaluation is needed on the effects of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in mangroves to generate an analysis of the human contribution to the degradation of this specific ecosystem as well as to define if these contaminants can be used as indicators of contamination in mangrove ecosystems.

scholarly journals Time-Resolved Transcriptional Profiling of Epithelial Cells Infected by Intracellular Acinetobacter baumannii

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 354
Author(s):  
Nuria Crua Asensio ◽  
Javier Macho Rendón ◽  
Marc Torrent Burgas
Keyword(s):  
Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽  
Transcriptional Profiling ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Common Features ◽  
Profile Changes

The rise in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has become a serious threat to health, making it important to identify, characterize and optimize new molecules to help us to overcome the infections they cause. It is well known that Acinetobacter baumannii has a significant capacity to evade the actions of antibacterial drugs, leading to its emergence as one of the bacteria responsible for hospital and community-acquired infections. Nonetheless, how this pathogen infects and survives inside the host cell is unclear. In this study, we analyze the time-resolved transcriptional profile changes observed in human epithelial HeLa cells after infection by A. baumannii, demonstrating how it survives in host cells and starts to replicate 4 h post infection. These findings were achieved by sequencing RNA to obtain a set of Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) to understand how bacteria alter the host cells’ environment for their own benefit. We also determine common features observed in this set of genes and identify the protein–protein networks that reveal highly-interacted proteins. The combination of these findings paves the way for the discovery of new antimicrobial candidates for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacteria.

scholarly journals Environmental Spread of New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase-1-Producing Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Dhaka, Bangladesh

2017 ◽  
Vol 83 (15) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Aminul Islam ◽  
Moydul Islam ◽  
Rashedul Hasan ◽  
M. Iqbal Hossain ◽  
Ashikun Nabi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
New Delhi ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wastewater Samples

ABSTRACT Resistance to carbapenem antibiotics through the production of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) constitutes an emerging challenge in the treatment of bacterial infections. To monitor the possible source of the spread of these organisms in Dhaka, Bangladesh, we conducted a comparative analysis of wastewater samples from hospital-adjacent areas (HAR) and from community areas (COM), as well as public tap water samples, for the occurrence and characteristics of NDM-1-producing bacteria. Of 72 HAR samples tested, 51 (71%) samples were positive for NDM-1-producing bacteria, as evidenced by phenotypic tests and the presence of the bla NDM-1 gene, compared to 5 of 41 (12.1%) samples from COM samples (P < 0.001). All tap water samples were negative for NDM-1-producing bacteria. Klebsiella pneumoniae (44%) was the predominant bacterial species among bla NDM-1-positive isolates, followed by Escherichia coli (29%), Acinetobacter spp. (15%), and Enterobacter spp. (9%). These bacteria were also positive for one or more other antibiotic resistance genes, including bla CTX-M-1 (80%), bla CTX-M-15 (63%), bla TEM (76%), bla SHV (33%), bla CMY-2 (16%), bla OXA-48-like (2%), bla OXA-1 (53%), and bla OXA-47-like (60%) genes. Around 40% of the isolates contained a qnr gene, while 50% had 16S rRNA methylase genes. The majority of isolates hosted multiple plasmids, and plasmids of 30 to 50 MDa carrying bla NDM-1 were self-transmissible. Our results highlight a number of issues related to the characteristics and source of spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria as a potential public health threat. In view of the existing practice of discharging untreated liquid waste into the environment, hospitals in Dhaka city contribute to the potential dissemination of NDM-1-producing bacteria into the community. IMPORTANCE Infections caused by carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae are extremely difficult to manage due to their marked resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. NDM-1 is the most recently described carbapenemase, and the bla NDM-1 gene, which encodes NDM-1, is located on self-transmissible plasmids that also carry a considerable number of other antibiotic resistance genes. The present study shows a high prevalence of NDM-1-producing organisms in the wastewater samples from hospital-adjacent areas as a potential source for the spread of these organisms to community areas in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The study also examines the characteristics of the isolates and their potential to horizontally transmit the resistance determinants. The significance of our research is in identifying the mode of spread of multiple-antibiotic-resistant organisms, which will allow the development of containment measures, leading to broader impacts in reducing their spread to the community.

scholarly journals Bacteriophages: the possible solution to treat infections caused by pathogenic bacteria

2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (11) ◽  
pp. 865-879 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayman El-Shibiny ◽  
Salma El-Sahhar
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Phage Therapy ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Clinical Applications ◽  
Western World ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Vaccine Production ◽  
Bacterial Populations ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant

Since their discovery in 1915, bacteriophages have been used to treat bacterial infections in animals and humans because of their unique ability to infect their specific bacterial hosts without affecting other bacterial populations. The research carried out in this field throughout the 20th century, largely in Georgia, part of USSR and Poland, led to the establishment of phage therapy protocols. However, the discovery of penicillin and sulfonamide antibiotics in the Western World during the 1930s was a setback in the advancement of phage therapy. The misuse of antibiotics has reduced their efficacy in controlling pathogens and has led to an increase in the number of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. As an alternative to antibiotics, bacteriophages have become a topic of interest with the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, which are a threat to public health. Recent studies have indicated that bacteriophages can be used indirectly to detect pathogenic bacteria or directly as biocontrol agents. Moreover, they can be used to develop new molecules for clinical applications, vaccine production, drug design, and in the nanomedicine field via phage display.

scholarly journals Review on the Antibacterial Mechanism of Plant-Derived Compounds against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria (MDR)

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Najwan Jubair ◽  
Mogana Rajagopal ◽  
Sasikala Chinnappan ◽  
Norhayati Binti Abdullah ◽  
Ayesha Fatima
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Plant Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Resistance Strategies ◽  
Microbial Infections ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Antibiotic Discovery

Microbial resistance has progressed rapidly and is becoming the leading cause of death globally. The spread of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has been a significant threat to the successful therapy against microbial infections. Scientists have become more concerned about the possibility of a return to the pre-antibiotic era. Thus, searching for alternatives to fight microorganisms has become a necessity. Some bacteria are naturally resistant to antibiotics, while others acquire resistance mainly by the misuse of antibiotics and the emergence of new resistant variants through mutation. Since ancient times, plants represent the leading source of drugs and alternative medicine for fighting against diseases. Plants are rich sources of valuable secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, quinones, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Many studies focus on plant secondary metabolites as a potential source for antibiotic discovery. They have the required structural properties and can act by different mechanisms. This review analyses the antibiotic resistance strategies produced by multidrug-resistant bacteria and explores the phytochemicals from different classes with documented antimicrobial action against resistant bacteria, either alone or in combination with traditional antibiotics.

Acquisition of multidrug-resistant bacteria and colistin resistance genes in French medical students on internships abroad

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
pp. 101940
Author(s):  
Thi Loi Dao ◽  
Van Thuan Hoang ◽  
Amal Magmoun ◽  
Tran Duc Anh Ly ◽  
Sophie Alexandra Baron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Colistin Resistance ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria

scholarly journals Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Different Aquatic Environments in the North of Spain and South of France

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1425
Author(s):  
Lara Pérez-Etayo ◽  
David González ◽  
José Leiva ◽  
Ana Isabel Vitas
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
World Health ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
The North ◽  
New Antibiotics ◽  
Health Organization

Due to the global progress of antimicrobial resistance, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the list of the antibiotic-resistant “priority pathogens” in order to promote research and development of new antibiotics to the families of bacteria that cause severe and often deadly infections. In the framework of the One Health approach, the surveillance of these pathogens in different environments should be implemented in order to analyze their spread and the potential risk of transmission of antibiotic resistances by food and water. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the presence of high and critical priority pathogens included in the aforementioned list in different aquatic environments in the POCTEFA area (North Spain–South France). In addition to these pathogens, detection of colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae was included due its relevance as being the antibiotic of choice to treat infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria (MDR). From the total of 80 analyzed samples, 100% of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and collectors (from hospitals and slaughterhouses) and 96.4% of the rivers, carried antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) against the tested antibiotics. Fifty-five (17.7%) of the isolates were identified as target microorganisms (high and critical priority pathogens of WHO list) and 58.2% (n = 32) of them came from WWTPs and collectors. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization showed that 96.4% were MDR and resistance to penicillins/cephalosporins was the most widespread. The presence of bla genes, KPC-type carbapenemases, mcr-1 and vanB genes has been confirmed. In summary, the presence of clinically relevant MDR bacteria in the studied aquatic environments demonstrates the need to improve surveillance and treatments of wastewaters from slaughterhouses, hospitals and WWTPs, in order to minimize the dispersion of resistance through the effluents of these areas.

scholarly journals Species Diversity of Environmental GIM-1-Producing Bacteria Collected during a Long-Term Outbreak

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (12) ◽  
pp. 3605-3610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas F. Wendel ◽  
Sofija Ressina ◽  
Susanne Kolbe-Busch ◽  
Klaus Pfeffer ◽  
Colin R. MacKenzie
Keyword(s):  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Environmental Sampling ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTReports of outbreaks concerning carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria in which the main source of transmission is the hospital environment are increasing. This study describes the results of environmental sampling in a protracted polyspecies metallo-beta-lactamase GIM-1 outbreak driven by plasmids and bacterial clones ofEnterobacter cloacaeandPseudomonas aeruginosain a tertiary care center. Environmental sampling targeting wet locations (especially sinks) was carried out on a surgical intensive care unit and on a medical ward on several occasions in 2012 and 2013. We were able to demonstrate 43blaGIM-1-carrying bacteria (mainly nonfermenters but alsoEnterobacteriaceae) that were either related or unrelated to clinical strains in 30 sinks and one hair washbasin. GIM-1 was found in 12 different species, some of which are described here as carriers of GIM-1. Forty out of 43 bacteria displayed resistance to carbapenems and, in addition, to various non-beta-lactam antibiotics. Colistin resistance was observed in twoE. cloacaeisolates with MICs above 256 mg/liter. TheblaGIM-1gene was harbored in 12 different class 1 integrons, some without the typical 3′ end. TheblaGIM-1gene was localized on plasmids in five isolates.In vitroplasmid transfer by conjugation was successful in one isolate. The environment, with putatively multispecies biofilms, seems to be an important biological niche for multidrug-resistant bacteria and resistance genes. Biofilms may serve as a “melting pot” for horizontal gene transfer, for dissemination into new species, and as a reservoir to propagate future hospital outbreaks.IMPORTANCEIn Gram-negative bacteria, resistance to the clinically relevant broad-spectrum carbapenem antibiotics is a major public health concern. Major reservoirs for these resistant organisms are not only the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and humans but also the (hospital) environment. Due to the difficulty in eradicating biofilm formation in the latter, a sustained dissemination of multidrug-resistant bacteria from the environment can occur. In addition, horizontal transfer of resistance genes on mobile genetic elements within biofilms adds to the total “resistance gene pool” in the environment. To gain insight into the transmission pathways of a rare and locally restricted carbapenemases resistance gene (blaGIM-1), we analyzed the genetic background of theblaGIM-1gene in environmental bacteria during a long-term polyspecies outbreak in a German hospital.

scholarly journals Occurrence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on animal farms and in their vicinity in Poland and Ukraine—review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karolina Jeżak ◽  
Anna Kozajda
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Animal Origin ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Antibiotic Resistant ◽  
Animal Farming ◽  
Food Of Animal Origin ◽  
Zoonotic Bacteria

AbstractIntensive animal farming emits to the environment very high concentrations of bioaerosol, mainly composed of microorganisms, including antibiotics resistant strains, and their derivatives. Poland is a significant producer of poultry and swine in Europe; Ukraine is located in the immediate vicinity of Poland and the EU. Thus, the review focuses on the presence of potentially pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant zoonotic bacteria and antimicrobial genes in the environment of farms and food of animal origin in Poland and Ukraine. Existing data confirms presence of these bacteria in the food animal origin chain environment in both countries. However, it is difficult to compare the scale of multidrug-resistant bacteria (e.g. MRSA, ESBL) dissemination in Poland and Ukraine with other EU countries due to lack of more extensive studies and large-scale monitoring in these two countries. A series of studies concerning resistance of pathogenic bacteria isolated from livestock environment have been published in Poland but usually on single farms with a very limited number of samples, and without a genotypic drug resistance marking. From Ukraine are available only few reports, but also disturbing. The risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria transmission does not only concern animal farming, but also other facilities of animal origin food supply chains, especially slaughterhouses.

scholarly journals Biofilms and antibiotic susceptibility of multidrug-resistant bacteria from wild animals

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4974 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carla Dias ◽  
Anabela Borges ◽  
Diana Oliveira ◽  
Antonio Martinez-Murcia ◽  
Maria José Saavedra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Susceptibility ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Multidrug Resistant ◽  
Contact Angles ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Wild Animals ◽  
Genetic Determinants ◽  
Multidrug Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Biofilm Removal

BackgroundThe “One Health” concept recognizes that human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of the ecosystem in which they (co)exist. This interconnection favors the transmission of bacteria and other infectious agents as well as the flow of genetic elements containing antibiotic resistance genes. This problem is worsened when pathogenic bacteria have the ability to establish as biofilms. Therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics and behaviour of microorganisms in both planktonic and biofilms states from the most diverse environmental niches to mitigate the emergence and dissemination of resistance.MethodsThe purpose of this work was to assess the antibiotic susceptibility of four bacteria (Acinetobacterspp.,Klebsiella pneumoniae,Pseudomonas fluorescensandShewanella putrefaciens) isolated from wild animals and their ability to form biofilms. The effect of two antibiotics, imipenem (IPM) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), on biofilm removal was also assessed. Screening of resistance genetic determinants was performed by PCR. Biofilm tests were performed by a modified microtiter plate method. Bacterial surface hydrophobicity was determined by sessile drop contact angles.ResultsThe susceptibility profile classified the bacteria as multidrug-resistant. Three genes coding for β-lactamases were detected inK. pneumoniae(TEM, SHV, OXA-aer) and one inP. fluorescens(OXA-aer).K. pneumoniaewas the microorganism that carried more β-lactamase genes and it was the most proficient biofilm producer, whileP. fluorescensdemonstrated the highest adhesion ability. Antibiotics at their MIC, 5 × MIC and 10 × MIC were ineffective in total biofilm removal. The highest biomass reductions were found with IPM (54% at 10 × MIC) againstK. pneumoniaebiofilms and with CIP (40% at 10 × MIC) againstP. fluorescensbiofilms.DiscussionThe results highlight wildlife as important host reservoirs and vectors for the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria and genetic determinants of resistance. The ability of these bacteria to form biofilms should increase their persistence.

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