Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Moving From South Asia to US

People travel around the world with unprecedented speed and frequency, carrying germs as they go. Recently, H1N1 – otherwise known as swine flu – swept through many countries, devastating a normally healthy group: 18-40 year olds. Now, a new mutation in some bacteria, a gene labeled by scientists as NDM-1, is resistant to almost all antibiotics. First detected in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, it has also traveled to the US and UK with patients that received medical treatment in South Asia. Experts in antibiotic resistance who track numerous emerging diseases warn that NDM-1 is “ominous,” but hesitate to compare it to MRSA – another bacterium resistant to many antibiotics. Currently, most cases involving antibiotic-resistant bacteria develop in hospitals, where patients are more vulnerable to infection. This emerging concern could crimp profitable medical tourism in countries like India. – YaleGlobal