Give an example of a multi-drug resistant bacteria and what disease they cause
Dear Researcher,
Now a days, due to the irrational and rampant usage of antibiotics, several commensal microorganisms have been transformed into multi-drug resistant (MDR) forms, which are difficult to manage.
Furthermore, mutations, genetic recombinations, selective pressure of antibiotics and natural selection have also given rise to even more dreadful forms i.e., extensively drug resistant (XDR) microorganisms and pan drug resistant (PDR) forms.
Example of MDR organism: New delhi Metallo beta lactamase-1 harbouring Escherichia coli
Example of XDR organism: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Example of PDR organism: Pan drug Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Most of these organisms are commonly referred as 'Superbugs'.
Superbugs family has also been classified as ESKAPE pathogens, which can be expanded as Multidrug resistant forms of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Proteus vulgaris and Enterobacter species.
So, it is definitely obvious that the war between drugs and bugs is continuing and bugs (MDR pathogens) are on the forefront. Hence the need of the hour is to look for some holistic alternatives so as to control and mitigate these dreadful drug resistant pathogens. One such alternative could be Herbal drug development.
I personally work towards the development of herbal drugs targeting antibiotic resistant microorganisms of biological importance.
Regards
Pallavi Thakur
Researcher,
DRDO, Ministry of Defence
I agree entirely with Dr.Thakur.
I would like to emphasize Staph. aureus which is responsible for chronic infectiones like a blepharitis, or endophthalmitis, or ulcer cornea- keratitis in ophthalmology
With Pseudomonas aeruginosa, multidrug resistance is often observed. This can develop under therapy, whereby a MDR phenotype must not necessarily be the result of for instance carbapenemase enzymes. In the attached image the resistance pattern of a P. aeruginosa isolate of a patient over time is shown. Although we did no molecular typing we are quite confident, that it is not a replacement of one isolate with another but simply a development in response to exposition to antibiotics. We isolated two isolates with different susceptibility pattern, however, on June 10th, from the same specimen. This heterogeneity may reflect heteroresistance. Best regards, Oliver
- Badges
- Science topic