Delhi Govt Downplays Superbug Threat

Delhi government today admitted to the presence of superbug in several city hospitals but downplayed the concerns over the infection.

In the wake of a report revealed by the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital here that there was a prevalence of Superbug, Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia denying any threat said fears over the reported surfacing and spread of the antibiotic-resistant are unfounded since the concerned authorities are constantly monitoring the pharmaceutical units and the products formulated by them.

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Walia clarified this after a meeting with top officials from his ministry, senior doctors, controller of drugs and other concerned persons.

"The name Superbug has been given. Basically resistance of antibodies occurs. As I have already said that antibiotic penicillin was used earlier, then a resistance to it gradually developed. Then a new antibiotic was formulated. Another resistance to it also took place. Whatever rumours about 'Superbug' is going on, there is no problem as such," said Walia.

"In many cases, a resistance of an antibody is developed and such problems surface as there is no rational utilisation of antibiotics. People normally take antibiotics for a couple of days and then they stop using it due to which such problems arise," he added.

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Recently a British Medical Journal reported about a bacteria with multi-drug resistant gene 'New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) that was resistant to almost all antibiotics.

The journal also stated that the bacteria had been found in the sewage and drinking water of New Delhi.

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Further downplaying the threat of Superbug in city hospitals, Walia said: "From the government side, mass awareness has been initiated regarding the rational use of anti-biotics and proper auditing will be conducted in all pharmacies and they would be enquired about the results for the prescribed antibiotics and we would take care of all aspects. Thorough monitoring would be in place."

Scientists and microbiologists across the world have expressed apprehensions that the spread of the enzyme might cause global problems because of its high antibiotic resistance qualities.

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Source-ANI