How Bacteria Resist Antibiotics in Hospitals

Scientists have discovered why antibiotic-resistant bacteria thrive in hospitals.  By using advanced DNA sequencing of samples from over 1,000 patients, researchers were able to identify antibiotic-resistant genes.  This was possible as they were able to see the complete genome of bacteria samples.  Circular DNA known as plasmids appear to be the center of the issue.  Plasmids easily enter bacteria and have the ability to move from one bacteria to another.  This study indicates that some plasmids carry a gene responsible for making bacteria drug-resistant.  Plasmids are able to multiply independently and can integrate their DNA with the DNA of bacteria.  Scientists have found that plasmids containing the gene capable of inactivating certain antibiotics can be transferred to bacteria of various classifications.  Dr. Tara Palmore, an infection control specialist for the U.S. National Institute of Health and co-author of this study stated, "The plasmids we are talking about carry an antibiotic-resistant gene to a class of antibiotic called carbapenems."  The carbapenem class of antibiotics are essentially antibiotics of last resort.  Dr. Marc Siegel, an associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center stated, "Carbapenems are the best we have. So if you've got carbapenem resistance, there is nowhere else for us to go.  We don't have a secret treatment up our sleeves."  

The image above displays the serious threat that 

antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose to humans.  

According to the study, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are bacterial pathogens that pose an alarming threat to hospitalized patients.  The occurrence of CRE has quadrupled in the United States in the last ten years. Researchers claim that CRE are resistant to most, if not all antibiotics.  A death rate of 40-80% from infection has been reported.  According to the U.S. National Institute of Health, over the past two years, ten patients have been identified as having resistance to carbapenems.  Although patients who contain this bacteria may not be sick themselves, they have the ability to pass the drug-resistant bacteria to others.  Dr. Julie Segre, chief investigator at the U.S. National Human Genome Research Institute and co-author of this study stated, "We are trying to reinforce the message that these drug-resistant bacteria can't become so prevalent that we can no longer control them."  

Ultimately, drug companies need to manufacture new antibiotics in which doctors need to use more cautiously.  Hospitals also need to do a better job of disinfecting facilities.  The correlation between the use of antibiotics and the increasing level of antibiotic- resistant bacteria is extremely interesting. In particular, this article caught my eye, as I always read how important it is for medical personnel to be careful when prescribing antibiotics.  Antibiotics are often prescribed during unnecessary circumstances in which over usage leads to ineffectiveness.  The article supports that theory due to bacteria forming resistance over time to even the most potent antibiotics available in the world today.


[1] Article: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/articles/2014/09/17/researchers-discover-how-bacteria-resist-antibiotics-in-hospitals
Related articles: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ICAAC/47541
                          http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282357.php