Microbiologists fight antibiotic resistance

Avoid spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, but how?

03.10.2012

Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are a growing problem in hospitals across Germany. The multidrug-resistant germs are called MRSA, VRSA or ESBL and are a major threat to hospital patients. The cause of the development is the careless or improper use of antibiotics and the lack of compliance with hygiene regulations, the experts reported at the annual congress of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM) in Hamburg, which has been running since Sunday.

At the 64th Annual Meeting of the DGHM, several lectures yesterday explicitly addressed the increased spread of multidrug-resistant pathogens and possible countermeasures. As the conference president Professor Martin Aepfelbacher from the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf previously reported, are „almost all known antibiotic-resistant hospital germs worldwide and also in Germany on the rise.“ The pathogens can cause dangerous infections for which no medication is available. In order to minimize the further increase in resistance, improved hygiene measures and restrictions on the use of antibiotics are required to an absolute minimum, the experts reported at the annual DGHM conference. Also, a monitoring should be set up that directly detects the use of antibiotics and new resistance. It also needed to improve infection control in clinics and drive the development of new, effective antibiotics.

Infections with multidrug-resistant clinical germs
About 3.5 percent of the hospital patients fell ill with an infection with multidrug-resistant hospital germs, the experts reported at the congress of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology with reference to the data of the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin. For the already weakened patients, such infections are a significant health risk. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteria, but also vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) strains and Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) -producing pathogens of the genus Escherichia coli (E coli) and Klebsiella. Since no new antibiotics are available in the medium term, the experts are very concerned about the current developments. However, over the past twelve years, effective reserve antibiotics have been developed against the MRSA germs that have been known for more than 50 years. Nevertheless, the treatment of the patients is usually difficult and tedious.

Lack of treatment options for infections with multidrug-resistant pathogens
As the president of the DGHM congress, Professor Martin Aepfelbacher, explained, the threat of antibiotic-resistant germs can only be tackled through early diagnosis, intensive hygiene management and extensive preventive measures against infection. Above all the so-called ESBL germs, which occur as infectious agents in the intestine (E. coli and Klebsiella), are in the view of the experts a not to be underestimated threat, since with appropriate infections so far no treatment options exist. Here, only by improving prevention can the risk be minimized in the patients' interest. A more careful handling of antibiotics is urgently required.

Use of antibiotics in animal husbandry favors the emergence of resistant pathogens
The fatal consequences of the improper use of antibiotics are evident not only in the clinics but also in animal husbandry. Here, the drugs are often banned to promote growth, which promotes the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. According to information from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), 82 percent of pigs and 86 percent of those working in pig farming are colonized with multi-resistant germs in fattening farms across Germany. Not only the use of antibiotics in clinics, but also their use in the field of animal husbandry, should therefore be significantly reduced. (Fp)

Also read:
WHO warns of antibiotic resistance
Antibiotic resistance is on the rise
Resistant germs due to antibiotic animal husbandry

Image: Sebastian Karkus