Jumping across different types of bacteria, a new class of 'superbug', the NDM-1 or 'New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1' has been spotted in the U.K. and Europe. First identified last year by Cardiff University’s Timothy Walsh in two types of bacteria, Klebsiella pneu-moniae and Escherichia coli, in a Swedish patient admitted to hospital in India.
Already 44 cases are reported in Chennai and 26 in Haryana, India. Until today the NDM-1 gene beats even Carbapenems, a group of antibiotics often used as last resort in the fight against multi-drug resistant bugs.
Reason to worry? 37 cases in the U.K., all patients who travelled recently to Asia to undergo plastic surgery procedures. So medical tourists such as plastic or cosmetic surgery patients should be examined or screened before receiving medical care in the U.K. (and elsewhere of course).
Blaming India??? According to Dr V.M. Katoch, Secretary for Health Research and Chairman of the Indian Council of Medical Research it is unfair to blame India for that. "Multi-drug resistance can be found anywhere in the world!"
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