MidnightWatcher's Blogspot

By Sarah Boseley – “A gene that causes a wide range of bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics has been found in the water supply in Delhi, with worrying implications for the rest of the globe.

International travel and medical tourism have already brought the gene, known as NDM-1, to the UK. A team of scientists reported last year that they had found NDM-1 positive bacteria in a small number of patients who had visited India for kidney or bone marrow transplants, dialysis, pregnancy care or burns treatment, while others had undergone cosmetic surgery.”  Read more.

By Richard Alleyne – “The overuse and misuse of antibiotics, which is leading to “unprecedented levels” of resistance, and a lack of development of new drugs means we could see current treatments become useless.

Already 25,000 people die each year from superbugs in Europe and there are a number of bacteria which are now resistant to all drugs.

That figure will increase to ever greater numbers unless new more powerful antibiotics are developed and we stop overusing antibiotics.”  Read more.