Rise of the Superbugs

Name:

1. Antibiotics have allowed us to do things that nobody could have dreamed of doing
historically. These feats include:
a. They've allowed us to transplant organs
b. They've allowed us to undergo chemotherapy, -
c. They've allowed us to receive therapy in intensive care units when we're critically
ill.
2. According to one of the speakers, prior to antibiotics era, these diseases that had the
following % mortality: meningitis (100%),appendicitis/ruptured bowel(30%), bad
pneumonia (100%). Sometimes the only cure then was surgical intervention to cut the
infection out.
3. Its the Indian subcontinent which is proving to be the superbugs birthing petri dish
because of antibiotic abuse.
4. Cite specific reasons why India is a fertile ground for antibiotic resistance.
a. There's no antibiotic policy in the country.
b. India mass produces antibiotics and sells them cheaply. The drugs are available
over the counter without prescription.
c. Waterways and even the soil are contaminated by waste from antibiotic
manufacture.
d. On top of poor sanitation and chronic overcrowding.
5. Indian 1 or New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase or NDM-1. is one of the worlds most
dangerous superbugs. Briefly explain how it unleashes its antibiotic resistance.
Indian 1 or New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase or NDM-1 is a gene that can
turn bacteria once easily destroyed into untreatable killers. Just like Professor
Lindsay Grayson said, The NDM bug is really scary because when you only have to
drink one or two of those bugs. And they don't have to multiply in themselves, they
just have to spit out the little bits of genetic material that make them superbugs
and then they convert all your healthy bacteria into superbugs.So it's a bit like
putting a red t-shirt into the washing machine of white shirts. And the t-shirt itself
doesn't have to multiply, it just has to leach out this stain and it changes all your
white shirts into red shirts and converts them into you know, a superbug.
6. What were specific solutions proposed by one Indian medical practitioner regarding this
superbug menace in their country?
a. Government should take initiative and ask the medical community to use the
antibiotics very sensibly.
b. The government should bring in strict laws to rationalise the antibiotics in
countries, there must be strict antibiotic policies on one end.
c. On the other end, governments should talk to pharma industries to stimulate the
research on antibiotics.
7. David Riccis experience with Indian 1 intaction:
a. What was the last antibiotic standing that saved his life? The last antibiotic
standing that saved his life was Collistin.
b. What was the downside of this drug that led to its abandonment years ago? The
downside of this drug that led to its abandonment years ago was it was too toxic.
c. Given his current condition and his five past operations, what was that risk that he
was facing? His kidneys and white blood cell count and everything started dropping
and they had to they had to pull him off right before you know most of his organs
were unretainable.
 8. TB Story in Papua New Guinea: Extensively Drug Resistant TB or XDR TB. Describe the
conditions that could have possibly led to the emergence of XDR in this part of the world
(paragraph form).
The condirions that possibly led to the emergence of XDR in this part of the
world is that when we have close contact for a prolonged period of time with known
TB patients in crowded, enclosed environments like clinics, hospitals, prisons, or
homeless shelters because its an airborne disease. TB bacteria are put into the air
when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, shouts, or
sings. These bacteria can float in the air for several hours, depending on the
environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB bacteria can
become infected. So everyone must wear masks to prevent this.
9. What is the TB DOTS Program of the Philippine Government? Describe the antibiotic
regimen.
10.Research on the treatment schedule of XDR TB so you can compare it with our regular TB
DOTS program.
11.Katrina was diagnosed with Multi-Drug Resistant TB in Saibai and flew to Australia for
treatment. However this transition led to her case developing into an XDR TB form. What
was the purported cause? Check out online or ask key DOH personnel if we have cases of
MDR or XDR TB here in the Philippines.
12.Prof. David Paterson stated that the antibiotic Drug Resistant strains from countries
geographically close to Australia pose a grave threat to Australia. This may imply that in
the near future we may have no antibiotics at all to treat some patients. But together with
Prof Lindsay Grayson, they suggested the following measures:
a. -
b. -
c. -
d. -
e.

http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/10/29/3618608.htm