Multi-drug resistance and carbapenems resistance

Scientists and doctors have been saying that overuse of antibiotics will lead to antibiotic resistance. Bacteria share genes through a process called Horizontal Gene Transfer. This process is different from the way human beings or other organisms get their genetic material from normal cell division of their parental genome.

Carbapenems are a class of antibiotics that were being used against several strains of bacteria, including gravely ill patients and those that show antibiotic resistance. But the emergence of multi-drug resistance has also affected Carbapenems.

The concern now is that the resistance against Carbapenems have been increasing worldwide. The medical world is worried about such resistance in Enterobacteriaceae and Klebsiella pneumoniae to Carbapenems, as anyone can get an infection from these two bacteria from crowded places such as hospitals.

A recent study advocates that hospitals must compulsorily screen for two genes, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and New Delhi metallo-β-Lacatamase-1 (NDM-1), in Enterobacteriaceae infections, as these genes can rapidly cross geographic boundaries. The study also recommends limiting the use of Carbapenems to treat these infections to counter the emergence of resistance to this antibiotic.

NDML-1 infections has created a ruckus in India in 2010 with the media hyping it as a superbug that is set to devour the country because of its poor sanitation.