Study: Superbugs kill more in India, twice of high-income countries
A first-of-its kind study on superbugs in India has found that mortality rates in the country resultant of drug-resistant bacteria are more than twice that of high-income nations. While overall mortality rate owing to drug-resistant bacteria in India was 13%, the corresponding figure for high-income countries ranged between 2% and 7%. Here are the finer details.
What are superbugs?
Superbugs refer to bacteria which have become resistant to antibiotics. There are several types of superbug infections - multi-drug resistant (MDR) infections, extensively drug resistant (XDR) infections, and totally drug resistant (TDR) infections.
581 of 4,437 patients studied died of drug-resistant bacteria
The retrospective study, which analyzed 2015 data, was conducted by researchers from John Hopkins University, and the Centre for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy (CDDEP), and covered 4,437 patients from 10 hospitals of the Fortis group across the country, including four in the national capital. 581 patients or 13.1% of the group studied died as a result of drug-resistant bacteria.
Other findings of the study
Notably, however, most of the patients who died from superbug infections were either old or admitted to ICUs when they were diagnosed. Additionally, the study found that death rate among patients with superbug infections was two to three times higher when the study accounted for age, sex, site of infection, and number of co-infections.
Globally, new resistance mechanisms are emerging and spreading
It's worth noting that globally, new resistance mechanisms among bacteria are emerging and spreading, thereby creating difficulties in treating common infectious diseases. Often, such drug-resistant bacteria cause prolonged illness, and in some cases, are responsible for disability and death. Further, the decreasing efficacy of antimicrobials/antibiotics in the face of more drug-resistant bacteria pose significant risks during medical procedures such as organ transplants and surgery.
Earlier, a landmark OECD report highlighted the superbug menace
Earlier this month, a landmark report by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) warned that the world faced an unprecedented threat from superbugs. It prophesized that millions would die from superbug infections in Europe, North America, and Australia by 2050, unless countries prioritized fighting the growing threat posed by superbugs.
2.4 million people could die of superbug infections by 2050
The report noted that 2.4 million people across the world could die of superbug infections by 2050 unless efforts were taken to slash unnecessary use of antibiotics, and improve basic hospital hygiene. It further added that treatment of superbug infections could cost each country as much as $3.5bn per year - more than healthcare costs pertaining to flu, HIV, and tuberculosis.
Superbug infections will increase by 4-7 times by 2030
Further, the report said that drug-resistance among bacteria in low and middle-income countries was already high - in Brazil and Russia, 60% of all bacterial infections are already resistant to at least one drug. Alarmingly, it also said that superbug infections are expected to increase by four to times the current rate by 2030, and low and middle-income countries would bear the brunt.
Newborns, young children, and the elderly are the most susceptible
"Such high resistance rates in healthcare systems, which are already weakened by constrained budgets will create conditions for an enormous death toll that will mainly be borne by newborns, young children, and the elderly," concluded the OECD report rather ominously.
