Superbug was found in India in 2006: Study

Experts from Christian Medical College Vellore,Tufts University School of Medicine,Boston,USA and others found that “out of the collection of 39 strains,15 strains carried the unique NDM-1,” one of the researchers,Dr Dilip Mathai from CMC,told The Indian Express.

“These are the earliest NDM-1-producing isolates reported to date,indicating that isolates producing this carbapenemase have been present in India earlier than previously appreciated,” says the study.

Calling the findings “worrisome”,the researchers said “detection and control of NDM-1-carrying strains spreading can be very troublesome”. “Additionally,other resistance mechanisms (OXA-181 and VIM-enzymes) are also becoming more prevalent in these monitored Indian medical centers,” the study said.

In the study — ‘Early dissemination of NDM-1- and OXA-181-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Indian Hospitals: Report from the SENTRY Antimicrobial Surveillance Program (2006-2007)’ — a total of 1,443 enterobacteriaceae isolates were collected from 14 hospitals in India.

The isolates were susceptibility tested using 46 Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) norms.

This gene was observed in at least 12 unique strains of three bacterial species and was carried by distinct mobile genetic structures (called plasmids),suggesting a potential for spreading of this gene to different strains.

Furthermore,11 of the 15 NDM-1-producing strains from this study were not detected by current methods used in clinical microbiology laboratories. According to Dr Mathai,“further studies seem necessary and this needs to be monitored”.

Dr VM Katoch,Secretary,Health Research,said,“Antibiotic resistance is a cause of concern. We understand that drug-resistant organisms are a danger and infection-control measures should be robust but this is not for our people only,it applies to whole world.”