LISTEN: MCR-1 and the dawn of the post-antibiotic age

[Oscar]

LISTEN: MCR-1 and the dawn of the post-antibiotic age

[ http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the- ... -1.3399846 ]

Tuesday January 12, 2016

The discovery of MCR-1, the gene that enables bacteria to be resistant to the strongest antibiotics we have, raises questions about what we're giving to livestock, not to mention what we're giving ourselves. We speak to the doctor who found the MCR-1 link.

LISTEN: MCR-1 and the dawn of the post-antibiotic age - January 12, 2016
[ http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the- ... -1.3399846 ]

The discovery of MCR-1, the gene that enables bacteria to be resistant to the strongest antibiotics we have, raises questions about what we're giving to livestock, not to mention what we're giving ourselves. We speak to the doctor who found the MCR-1 link
McMaster University scientist Gerry Wright is among the Canadians studying the MCR-1 antibiotic resistant gene. (Kelly Crowe/CBC) - Listen 24:44

Penicillin heralded the beginning of the antibiotic age when Alexander Flemming accidently discovered penicillin in 1928, and helped save millions of lives. [ 97s/38/huty/8269/23 ]

Renowned bacteriologist Sir Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) is most famous for his discovery of the antibiotic powers of penicillin in 1928. Fleming shared the 1945 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine with the two chemists who had perfected a method of producing penicillin. (Davies/Getty Images)

But many fear that a new gene, known as MCR-1, could herald the end of the antibiotic age. In the past eight weeks, more than a dozen countries have confirmed the presence of MCR-1.

Timeline for the emergence of MCR-1
[ http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/ ... anada.html ]

And Canada joined that list of countries last week when MCR-1 was detected in a patient, and in ground beef samples dating back to 2010.

Dr. Michael Mulvey is Chief of Antimicrobial Resistance and Nosocomial Infections at the National Microbiology Laboratory headquarters in Winnipeg. He's also an Associate Professor in Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the University of Manitoba. [ http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/health_sc ... ulvey.html ]

Jason Tetro is a microbiologist and author. His new book "The Germ Files" will be released February 2nd. [ http://jasontetro.com/ ]

This segment was produced by Vancouver Network Producer Anne Penman.

More segments from our series, Ripple Effect
[ http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/feat ... ppleeffect ]


LISTEN: RadioLab: "Staph Retreat"
[ http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the- ... -1.3399846 ]
Our last word on this topic goes to the folks at the WNYC radio show RadioLab. Here is "Staph Retreat" that aired last fall.


RELATED LINKS

♦[b] 'Disturbing' drug-resistant superbug gene has been detected in Canada - January 5, 2016[/b]
[ http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/ ... anada.html ]

♦ Jason Tetro: Everything you need to know about the ominous new 'superbug' - January 5, 2016 (Below)
[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/hea ... e28023151/ ]

♦ Lancet: Dissemination of the mcr-1 colistin resistance gene - December 17, 2015
[ http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanin ... 73-3099(15)00541-1/fulltext ]

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Everything you need to know about the ominous new ‘superbug’

[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/hea ... e28023151/ ]

Jason Tetro Special to The Globe and Mail Published Tuesday, Jan. 05, 2016 2:27PM EST Last updated Tuesday, Jan. 05, 2016 3:01PM EST

A newly-discovered gene that gives bacteria the ability to resist one of our last-resort antibiotics has been found in people and ground beef in Canada. Public health officials are once again raising the alarm. We asked microbiologist Jason Tetro about the gene, if there is any cause for concern and what can we do about it.

MORE:
[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/hea ... e28023151/ ]


RELATED:

In fight against superbugs, newly discovered antibiotic looks promising
[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/hea ... e22336747/ ]

Hospital beats back superbug outbreak
[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/bri ... e17491728/ ]

B.C. microbiologist calls for better superbug alert system
[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/bri ... e16723306/ ]


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Isolation of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria from the Air Plume Downwind of a Swine Confined or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation - 2006
[ http://www.ehponline.org/members/2006/8910/8910.pdf ]
Environmental Health Perspectives July 2006
Abstract
Objective: In this study we evaluated the levels of antibiotic- and multidrug-resistant bacteria in bioaerosols upwind, within, and downwind at locations 25 m, 50 m, 100 m, and 150 m from a swine confined animal feeding operation.
- - - SNIP- - - - -
Conclusions: Bacterial concentrations with multiple antibiotic resistances or multidrug resistance were recovered inside and outside to (at least) 150 m downwind of this facility at higher percentages than upwind. Bacterial concentrations with multiple antibiotic resistances were found within and downwind of the facility even after subtherapeutic antibiotics were discontinued. This could pose a potential human health effect for those who work within or live in close proximity to these facilities.

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Losing war on bacteria - 2004
[ http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/200 ... 723-7985r/ ]
By Christian Toto THE WASHINGTON TIMES Published June 22, 2004
EXCERPT:
Antibiotic resistance isn’t a new phenomenon. It started shortly after penicillin enjoyed wide usage for the first time in the late 1940s. Some bacteria naturally develop resistance to antibiotic drugs without human intervention, sometimes by exchanging genes with other bacteria.

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A review of 40 years of enteric antimicrobial resistance research in Eastern Africa: what can be done better? - 2015
[ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4339253/ ]
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2015; 4: 1.
Published online 2015 Jan 28. doi: 10.1186/s13756-014-0041-4 PMCID: PMC4339253
Sylvia Omulo, Samuel M Thumbi, M Kariuki Njenga, and Douglas R Call corresponding author
EXCERPT:
Introduction
Since the discovery of penicillin in 1928, antibiotics and other antimicrobial therapies have been used to control both old and new emerging pathogens, resulting in global improvements in disease outcomes and increments in life expectancy [1,2]. However, the rapid emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by microbial pathogens threatens to reverse the public health gains made since widespread use of antibiotics was adopted. AMR is not a recent phenomenon, [2] and with decreasing options for- and production of newer antibiotics [3-6] the control of diseases has become a challenge, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where infectious diseases, poverty and malnutrition are endemic.