Antibiotics and Superbugs: Australian researchers have identified a common antibiotic that helps prevent the development of a nearly incurable superbug. In a study published last Thursday, international researchers found that an antibiotic commonly prescribed to treat liver disease may increase the risk of dangerous superbugs in patients, reports Xinhua news agency.

What does the research say?

The study was led by the University of Melbourne and also included the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity and Austin Health.

Superbug is the name given to bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi that have developed resistance to one or more antibiotics, also known as antimicrobials (AMR), used to treat them.

dangerous to global health

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described AMR as a major threat to global public health and development. It has also estimated that it caused 49.5 lakh deaths globally in 2019.

A new eight-year study finds that the antibiotic rifaximin has led to the global emergence of a nearly incurable version of the AMR superbug vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), a contagious bacterial infection that is threatening the health of hospitalized patients. But can cause serious consequences.

Laboratory experiments and clinical studies conducted by researchers found that the use of rifaximin caused changes in the DNA of VRE, making it resistant to the antibiotic daptomycin, an important last-line drug treatment for multidrug-resistant pathogens.

Glenn Carter, senior author of the study from the University of Melbourne and the Doherty Institute, said the study challenges the previously held belief that rifaximin has a low risk of causing AMR. “We have shown that rifaximin makes VRE resistant to daptomycin, which has never been seen before,” he said. There is also concern that these daptomycin-resistant VRE could spread to other patients in the hospital. “This is a hypothesis we are currently investigating.” The researchers said the findings emphasize the critical need for effective genomics-based surveillance to detect emerging AMR.