A collaborative research group led by Professor Yoshimasa Yamamoto of Osaka University surveyed local residents in Vietnam and found that about 7% of the residents have Escherichia coli that is resistant to the antibiotic colistin in the intestinal tract. I made it.There is an urgent need for international surveillance and preventive measures.This achievement is a result of joint research with researchers from Osaka Institute of Health and Safety, Ryukyu University, and Thai Binh Medical and Pharmaceutical University (Vietnam).
Colistin is a trump card antibiotic for the treatment of intractable multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.In recent years, it has been found that the properties of colistin resistance are easily transmitted to other bacteria.If the colistin resistance gene is transferred to pathogens with other resistance genes, super-resistant bacteria called "nightmare bacteria" that are resistant to all antibiotics and also to colistin, which is a last resort, may develop.
Colistin is used worldwide as a feed additive in the field of livestock and fisheries as an antibacterial agent.The research group conducted a survey in Thai Binh Province, Vietnam to find out the status of colonization of colistin-resistant bacteria in developing countries.As a result, the detection rate of colistin-resistant bacteria in the feces of 98 local community residents (the rate of living in the intestinal tract) was 70.4% (69).All resistant strains carried the transmissible colistin resistance gene.
For the first time, it was shown that the colonization rate of colistin-resistant E. coli in developing countries is high, but it is rarely detected in developed countries.Since it is not a pathogen, it is asymptomatic and does not require treatment, but if the resistance gene is transmitted to other pathogens, intractable infections for which antibiotics do not work will increase and pose a threat in the medical field, so it is international. It is said that strengthening the monitoring system for resistant bacteria and prompt preventive measures against spread are required.
