City hospitals scurry to study NDM-1 strain

Microbiologists in city to check for presence of superbug in patients

City hospitals scurry to study NDM-1 strain

Microbiologists in city to check for presence of superbug in patients

Research time: Microbiologists in city say NDM-1 has not yet proved to
be deadlier than any of the existing superbugs

The MiD DAY report yesterday on Sassoon hospital having discovered
the presence of NDM-1 superbug in patients in the city

Dr K B Niphadkar, head of microbiology department at KEM hospital, said that his department had a tie-up with the Agarkar Research Institute where such type of research was ongoing.

"In layman terms, NDM-1 is an enzyme belonging to the metallo-beta-lactamese family of bacteria. This kind of enzyme, if present, makes the patients resistant to an anti-biotic known as carbapenem which is usually used to treat urinary tract infections, intestinal infections, respiratory infections and wound infections. Though at our hospital we routinely test patients for presence of metallo-beta-lactamese, we haven't so far studied if the NDM-1 enzyme is present," he said.

Niphadkar said they would now start studying for presence of the strain because it was a relatively new one and also mired in controversy.

"People are studying it worldwide and we don't know yet what is the exact genetic mapping of this superbug nor its reach and that's why it's interesting to study," he said. Dr Vikram Padbidri, microbiologist at Jehangir hospital too agreed that the revelation of its presence in the study does call for a detailed study.

"We have always been testing for metallo-beta-lactamese bacteria but so far we haven't tested for NDM-1 strain. For that super-specialised facilities are required and our hospital is in process of establishing such a facility in two months. Definitely we will study it as not only is it interesting from an academic point of view currently, maybe in future we will need better information on it for clinical use as well," he said.

Though they themselves have taken a singular interest in the new superbug, the doctors have advised caution against panic.Dr Namrata Patwardhan, head of microbiology department at Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital, said that NDM-1 was not proven deadlier than any of existing superbugs but was merely a controversial one.

"Whether it is NDM-1 or not, it does affect us clinically. Because whether it is this enzyme or another, it belongs to a broader family of strain that makes one person resistant to a certain drug. All we need is to know that, so that we can give the patient another drug if this one doesn't work. So presence of NDM-1 merely means that one of the superbugs which was allegedly first found in India and named after our capital is
found in Pune," said Patwardhan.

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