The Alberta patient who was diagnosed in the summer of 2010 with the infection of an NDM-1 strain

superbug from an Indian hospital has attracted much media attention and alarm in the medical community.
Only two NDM-1 cases have been reported in Canada and a handful of cases have been reported worldwide,
but experts fear that this strain of bacteria can threaten patients in hospitals globally.

What earns bacteria the title "superbug"? Bacteria can carry genes that allow them to survive exposure to
the antibiotics we currently have. This means that infections caused by these bacteria are harder to treat,
although they are not necessarily more severe or infectious. What is concerning is that the gene that carries
antibiotic resistance can be passed between bacteria, allowing for the creation of bacteria that carry
resistance genes to many different antibiotics, a superbug.

In this case, NDM-1 is an enzyme gene that can be acquired by common bacteria that cause diseases such as
pneumonia, or infections of the urinary tract, kidney, bladder or blood. This enzyme gives bacteria
resistance to carbapenem, a strong antibiotic that can kill a variety of bacteria, but that is often used as a
last resort when other antibiotics do not work.

But NDM-1 strain bacteria are not the rst superbugs. In fact, MRSA, a strain of Staphylococcus bacteria
that carries resistance to a number of antibiotics, has been a major problem in health care settings for years.
MRSA bacteria are resistant to most of the antibiotics used to treat them, making common infections
difcult to treat.

Regardless of MRSA or NDM-1, the overuse or misuse of antibiotics contributes to the formation of these
superbugs. When antibiotics are used for things other than bacterial infections, like the u, or not taken as
the doctor prescribed (e.g., stopping taking the antibiotics earlier than the intended full course of
treatment), they will become less effective for future bacterial infections and possibly acquire resistance
genes. As more bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, the risk of complications and death is increased.
Doctors will have to resort to less commonly used antibiotics, many of which are more expensive and are
associated with severe side effects, without necessarily being able to treat the infection.

There are a number of things you can do to ensure the safe use of antibiotics:

Be sure to understand when antibiotics should be used. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial
infections, and they should never be used for viral infections such as a cold or u.
Follow your doctor's instructions precisely when you are prescribed an antibiotic. Stopping the treatment
early can allow resistant bacteria to survive and spread.
Never take antibiotics without a prescription. Taking leftover antibiotics without a prescription can be
harmful because they might not be the appropriate choice for your condition or may not be enough to
combat the infection.
Keep good hygiene to prevent infection. Washing hands before eating and after going to the bathroom or
visiting a hospital can go a long way towards preventing infections.


Main
1. Bacteria can carry genes that allow them to survive exposure to the antibiotics we currently have which
make them harder to treat and make them earn the name superbugs
2. NDM-1 is an enzyme gene that can be acquired by common bacteria that cause many diseases.
3. Regardless of MRSA or NDM-1, the overuse or misuse of antibiotics contributes to the formation of these
antibiotic resistance bacteria
Support
1. infections caused by these bacteria are harder to treat, but are not any more harmful
2. This enzyme gives bacteria resistance to carbapenem, which is a antibiotics that can kill many bacteria
3. When antibiotics are used for things other than bacterial infections, like the u, or not taken as the doctor
prescribed, they can become less affective as the bacteria starts to adapt to the antibiotics.

Similarities: in this article and in the other articles I have read have all said that superbugs can come from
overusing prescribed drugs and antibiotics.