Superbugs show growing resistance to antibiotics

HEALTH experts have called for urgent action to limit antibiotic use in hospitals and the community as superbugs other than MRSA show growing resistance to treatment.

New Irish data on bloodstream infections from E coli and E faecium shows growing resistance to antibiotics, reducing treatment options.

Scientists at Ireland's agency for the surveillance of communicable diseases, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), have said excessive use of antibiotics in Irish hospitals is a major factor in the emergence of "multi-drug resistant" strains of the infections.

The number of cases of E coli infection - which is potentially fatal - that are resistant to antibiotics called fluoroquinolones increased in Ireland from 5% in 2002 to 17% in October 2005.

Cases of E coli resistance to gentamicin (antibiotics for skin and eye infections) trebled from 3% in 2002 to 9% by October 2005.

E faecium, a bacterium found in the faeces of most humans and which can cause urinary-tract and wound infections, showed growing resistance to vancomycin, known as 'the antibiotic of last resort'.

E faecium is common only in patients who have been in hospital for long periods, those on certain antibiotics and those fed by nasogastric tube.

Most outbreaks have been in kidney dialysis, transplant, haematology and intensive-care units.

Infections caused by E faecium can be difficult to treat, particularly in cases where the strain involved has developed resistance to several antibiotics.

E faecium is known to have a resistance to several antibiotics, including penicillin and vancomycin and is a major concern for the medical community.

In Eurosurveillance, an online weekly publication on communicable diseases, HPSC surveillance scientist Stephen Murchen and consultant microbiologist Professor Robert Cunney warn growing resistance of E coli and E faecium to antibiotics in Ireland "means that the options for treatment of such infections are becoming more limited".

Both bacteria are described as "multi-drug resistant".

The authors say inappropriate and excessive use of antibiotics in hospital and community settings is considered to be "one of the major driving forces behind the emergence and spread of resistance to antimicrobial agents".

They also warn preliminary data on antibiotic consumption in Irish hospitals "suggest that this is higher than the European average".