Based on recent reports, the deadly antibiotic-resistant superbug spreading in a Malaysian hospital is Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii).
Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
- Identification: Researchers from the University of Birmingham and other international institutions analyzed ten years’ worth of data from a major hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia. They discovered that the majority of A. baumannii infections belonged to a specific strain known as Global Clone 2 (GC2).
- Antibiotic Resistance: This strain is highly resistant to multiple antibiotics, including carbapenems, which are often the last-resort drugs for treating A. baumannii infections. The study found that most of the bacterial samples were resistant to carbapenems.
- Spread Mechanism: A significant finding was that 97% of the analyzed bacterial samples carried plasmids. These are small DNA “toolkits” that enable bacteria to easily transfer antibiotic resistance genes to other bacteria, accelerating the spread of resistance.
- Nature of the Infection:A. baumannii is an opportunistic bacterium that can cause severe infections, particularly in healthcare settings like hospitals. It can lead to infections in the:
- Bloodstream (sepsis)
- Lungs (pneumonia, especially ventilator-associated pneumonia)
- Urinary tract
- Wounds
- Vulnerable Populations: Individuals with weakened immune systems, those in intensive care units, patients on ventilators, and those with invasive medical devices are particularly susceptible to A. baumannii infections.
Could it be a global threat?
Yes, there is significant concern that this antibiotic-resistant A. baumannii strain could pose a global threat for several reasons:
- Global Clone 2 Prevalence: The identified strain, GC2, is already the dominant type of A. baumannii in many parts of the world. This means that a highly resistant version of an already widespread pathogen is circulating.
- High Resistance Levels: The extensive resistance to carbapenems severely limits treatment options, making infections very difficult to manage.
- Plasmid-Mediated Resistance: The presence of plasmids facilitates the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance to other bacteria, potentially exacerbating the problem.
- Healthcare-Associated Infections: A. baumannii is primarily associated with hospital-acquired infections. The movement of patients across healthcare facilities and international travel could contribute to its global dissemination.
- WHO Classification: The World Health Organization (WHO) has already classified A. baumannii as a critical priority antibiotic-resistant pathogen, highlighting the urgent need for new treatments and control measures.
- Limited Data from Some Regions: Researchers noted a lack of comprehensive data on A. baumannii from low- and middle-income countries, which could hinder efforts to track and contain its spread.
In conclusion, the emergence of this highly antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strain in Malaysia, particularly the prevalence of the globally dominant GC2 lineage with carbapenem resistance and the presence of resistance-spreading plasmids, raises serious concerns about its potential to become a global threat. Enhanced surveillance, development of new treatment strategies, and robust infection control measures are crucial to combat this growing public health challenge.
