Antibiotic resistance is on the rise

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria has increased dramatically in recent years

11/17/2011

For a long time, antibiotics were considered an all-purpose weapon against any kind of bacteria. Even with diseases often caused by viruses, e.g. Runny nose, they are partly prescribed. The consequences are more frequently occurring multidrug-resistant germs, the so-called MRSA. According to an international study that has examined the occurrence of infections in intensive care units, the number of Gram-negative pathogens increased from 39 percent in 1992 to over 62 percent in 2007. The study also states that the number of deaths of infected patients in intensive care units more than twice as high as in non-infected patients (Source: Vincent JL, Rello J, Marshall J et al .: International Study of the prevalence and outcomes of infection in intensive care units).

What are multidrug-resistant germs??
Multidrug-resistant bacteria (MRSA = methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are generally bacteria of the strain Staphylococcus aureus, which are resistant to almost all antibiotics. This includes e.g. penicillin.

If an antibiotic is administered, the pathogens are usually killed. However, mutations in some pathogens can make them resistant to the antibiotic. The resistant bacteria can continue to multiply and be passed on the resistance-conferring genes to other bacterial species. The resistances are favored by the use of certain cleaning agents, which contain the so-called quaternary ammonium compounds with a disinfecting effect. Because the same genes of the bacteria, which contain resistance to the quaternary ammonium compounds, also transmit antibiotic resistance to the bacteria.

How does the germ get into the hospitals??
Basically, every person can transmit multidrug-resistant germs, even if the antibiotic treatment has been around a long time ago. In healthy people, the pathogens usually do not cause illness. However, if the germs enter the body of a critically ill person whose immune system is severely weakened, they can cause serious damage that can even lead to the death of the patient. Typical consequences of infection with MRSA are e.g. severe inflammation of surgical wounds, blood poisoning and pneumonia.

Preventive measures
According to the German Society for Hospital Hygiene (DGKH), the Society for Hygiene, Environmental Medicine and Preventive Medicine (GHUP) and the Federal Association of Physicians of the Public Health Service (BVÖGD), approximately 30,000 people die of so-called hospital germs each year in Germany. Since both healthy visitors and the hospital staff come as a carrier of germs in question, special hygiene rules must be observed. With the amendment to the Infection Protection Act, introduced in 2001, the Federal Government wants to enforce better hygiene standards in hospitals and thus counteract the spread of hospital infections and hospital pathogens. The Federal Ministry of Health speaks of 400,000 to 600,000 patients who fall ill in Germany every year to infections that occur in connection with medical treatments. The Ministry continues to believe that these so-called nosocomial infections can not be completely avoided, but are to be severely curtailed by compliance with the relevant hygiene regulations. Experts believe that 20% to 30% of infections could be prevented by the hygiene measures. A major problem is the multidrug-resistant germs, because the pathogens are partly treatable because of their resistance. The Ministry sees the main causes of improper prescribing of antibiotics as well as hygiene deficiencies that occur in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

By changing the Infection Protection Act, the federal government wants to support a rational use of antibiotics. Furthermore, the hygiene rules and recommendations should be better taken into account and implemented.

As a pioneer in the fight against hospital infections, the Netherlands can be mentioned. For the first time, it was possible to reduce the rate of new infections by taking targeted measures to under one percent. This includes examining each new patient for MRSA. In the case of a positive test result, the patient is immediately isolated and treated with special antibiotics. The hospital staff is also obliged to comply with particularly stringent hygiene regulations.

Naturopathy to combat bacteria and resistant germs
In the discussion about bacteria and resistant germs it is often neglected that in nature natural active substances for the fight against pathogens occur. Recently, Portuguese scientists published in the „Journal of Medical Microbiology“ their findings regarding the study of Koriandröl for controlling bacteria. The researchers found that the antibacterial coriander oil inhibits bacterial growth. This also applies to multi-resistant germs. The scientists at the University Beira Interior report that the coriander oil, the membrane surrounding the cell, destroys and ultimately leads to the death of the bacterial cell. (Ag)

Read about:
Naturopathy: With coriander against bacteria
Vaccination against multidrug-resistant hospital germs
Every tenth hospital treatment hurts
Risk of infection in the hospital
Sick by hospital germs
Resistant bacteria in German hospitals
Multi-resistant germs on frozen chicken

Picture: Dr. Karl HERRMANN