With the controversy about New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1 (NDM-1) still resisting to subside, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has initiated a surveillance network exclusively to monitor negative bacterial organisms. It has also launched studies about the presence of NDM virus in Delhi.
The move comes in the wake of recent reports about the presence of NDM in some hospitals in Delhi, though with a minimal impact and without any danger. The network, mounted in collaboration with other government agencies, will monitor negative bacterial organisms, methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus and fungus causing sepsis, along with NDM.
“Government is aware of antimicrobial resistance in bacterias and viruses. Such naturally occurring multi-drug resistant bacteria with NDM-1 or similar plasmids are present all over the world. Their presence as such has limited implications unless linked to clinical situations and outcome. Unless these organism get the opportunity to invade body through wounds, surgery, damage due to instruments etc. these are not usual cause of infection. This can be tackled by good hospital infection control measures,” sources said.
In a recent study, seepage samples and 50 tap water samples from New Delhi were analysed, of which two of water samples and 51 of seepage samples were detected having contamination with NDM-1, sources confirmed.
Delhi Government also has recently admitted to the presence of superbug NDM-1 in several hospitals, but affirmed that it was not alarming. The Government also instructed all public sector hospitals to take effective measures to contain the spread of the virus and rationalise use of antibiotics.
“A very low” prevalence of NDM1 infection has been found in tests conducted in ICUs of a number of hospitals like RML Hospital, Lady Harding Hospital, CNBC and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. “It was found in the range of 0.04 per cent to 0.08 per cent, which cannot be stated as alarming,” the government said.
Triggering panic and controversy, two articles were published in the Lancet Infections Diseases citing presence of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae due to NDM-1 and the origin of this bacteria has been traced back to India and Pakistan. The Government had denied this allegation as the origin of NDM-1 from India.
“As per information published by WHO, even USA and Canada have reported cases of NDM-1. Australia, Belgium, Japan, Sweden and Vietnam have also reported cases. In a study funded by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) in six centres (Vellore, AIIMS, New Delhi, Kochi, Sevagram, Puducherry and Lucknow) the proportion of such strains was found to be less than 5 per cent (2 – 4.5 per cent) during 2008-09. Such naturally occurring multi-drug resistant bacteria with NDM1 or similar plasmids are present all over the world,” Government sources claimed.