Gull of the European variety, specifically a Herring Gull (Larus argentatus), captures flight in a photograph, credit to Ben Cranke.
In a concerning development, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) have discovered the colistin-resistance gene, known as mcr-1, in two samples from pigs in Illinois and South Carolina. This marks the third time that mcr-1 has been found in the United States, with the previous instances being in stored samples from slaughtered pigs.
The discovery of mcr-1 in a 49-year-old woman from Pennsylvania, who had a urinary tract infection, adds to the growing concern. This is the first time that the resistant gene has been found in a human patient in the U.S.
Mcr-1 creates colistin resistance, a powerful antibiotic used as a last resort when other antibiotics fail. The discovery of colistin-resistant bacteria, dubbed MCR, suggests that these bacteria could potentially spread and cause infections that are difficult to treat.
Researchers have also found mcr-1 in seagulls (Larus argentatus in Lithuania and Larus dominicanus in Argentina), as well as in other locations including Portugal, France, Russia, Greenland, and Miami Beach. The lifestyle of seagulls, which allows them to carry and disseminate pathogenic and resistant microorganisms across country borders, could be a significant factor in the spread of MCR.
According to Dr. Martin Blaser, a member of the Presidential advisory council, while it's good news that mcr-1 has been found, it's concerning that it's present in the U.S. Officials agree that it may be impossible to trace the path that MCR took to reach the United States.
The woman from Pennsylvania continues to carry the highly resistant bacterium in her system despite recovering from her infection. None of her 99 family members and close contacts are carrying bacteria containing mcr-1.
The key focus now is to build surveillance systems that alert health planners as MCR moves. Both research teams believe that the seagulls likely picked up the resistant E. coli by eating garbage, which may have contained sewage or medical waste. Water contaminated by bird feces is considered an important risk factor for the transmission of resistant bacteria.
To date, there have been almost 100 reports of colistin resistance published in two dozen countries since the gene was first discovered in bacteria last November. The discovery of colistin-resistant bacteria in seagulls is one way that drug resistance is moving around the world.
The CDC and USDA are currently checking over 55,000 stored samples and an additional 2,000 samples, and will continue to monitor the situation closely. It is essential to take measures to prevent the spread of MCR and other antibiotic-resistant bacteria to protect public health.
Read also:
- Asthma Flare-Ups in Cooler Weather: Understanding Root Causes, Recognizing Symptoms, and Managing Remedies
- Tests to Detect Diabetes-Linked Kidney Disease
- Symptoms of Thrombophlebitis Include: Pain, Inflammation, Redness, and Various Other Markers
- Chest Pain Caused by Compressed Nerves: A Possibility Explored
%2C%20captures%20flight%20in%20a%20photograph%2C%20credit%20to%20Ben%20Cranke.){kind=link}