Global Scenario of Bacteria, Infections, Antibiotics and Resistance- By Dr. A. J. Tamhankar (Research Associate: Sandeep Nerkar)

• Antibiotic use cut by nearly a third with new test for patients with sore throats
• Bacterial toxin sets the course for serious infection
• Government cuts putting patients at risk of Clostridium difficile infection say experts, UK
• Use of calcium-channel blocker and antibiotic associated with small increased risk of kidney injury
• Novel imaging technique, a new weapon in the fight against superbugs
• Multi-resistant bacteria defeated by new substance
• Veterans hospitals nationwide sustain decline in MRSA
• Human decomposition: study maps internal bacteria
• Opportunities for improvement identified through evaluation of hospital infection prevention policies
• The science of toxins and illness associated with E. coli
• Listeria's resistance to disinfectants
• Risk of clostridium difficile infection may be higher in the obese
• Increase in pediatric musculoskeletal MRSA infections
• Novel technique addresses antibiotic resistance
• Community-associated MRSA rife in nursing homes
• Proposed social network modeling may help in the fight against hospital infections

Increased antibiotic resistance cause for concern: Researchers

http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/increased-antibiotic-resistance-cause-for-concern-researchers

The World Health Organisation recently announced a ‘global health crisis’ of increased antibiotic resistance. The studies done by WHO have marked India as one of the countries to be suffering from the consequence.

Three medical researchers working as an Associate Professors at R D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, Dr. Ashish Pathak, Vishal Diwan and Dr. Megha Sharma, conducted a study in Ujjain to get to know the real cause of the problem and to find out solutions for the same. 

Infectious diseases experts raise alarm at growing superbug risk – Louise Milligan | ABC News

Infectious diseases experts raise alarm at growing superbug risk 

 – Louise Milligan | ABC News

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-24/infectious-diseases-experts-raise-alarm-at-growing-superbug-risk/4841740

Medical experts have raised fears of a new strain of antibiotic-resistant superbug spread through food and even drinking water, and the British chief medical officer has described the superbug threat as ranking with terrorism or global warming. Australia’s chief scientist this month warned antibiotic resistance could mean an end to modern medicine as we know it.

Antibiotic resistance – The last resort - Maryn McKenna | Nature

Antibiotic resistance – The last resort - Maryn McKenna | Nature

http://www.nature.com/news/antibiotic-resistance-the-last-resort-1.13426

Thomas Frieden and Sally Davies have recently been speaking publicly about the soaring increase in a little-known class of antibiotic-resistant bacteria: carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CREs). Davies, the United Kingdom’s chief medical officer, described CREs as a risk as serious as terrorism (see Nature 495, 141; 2013). “We have a very serious problem, and we need to sound an alarm,” said Frieden, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

Their dire phrasing was warranted. CREs cause bladder, lung and blood infections that can spiral into life-threatening septic shock. They evade the action of almost all antibiotics — including the carbapenems, which are considered drugs of last resort — and they kill up to half of all patients who contract them. In the United States, these bacteria have been found in 4% of all hospitals and 18% of those that offer long-term critical care.

Global Scenario of Bacteria, Infections, Antibiotics and Resistance- By Dr. A. J. Tamhankar (Research Associate: Sandeep Nerkar)

Spillover Of Infectious Diseases Among Wildlife, Domestic Animals And People; Links Found Between Environment And Human Health
Seeking Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Drugs For Common Cold And Other Infections
Good And Bad Bacteria In The Gut Battle It Out During Salmonella Infection
Predicting Disease Spread In The UK By Studying Social Contacts By Job And Social Group
Antimicrobial Copper For Infection Control: A Health Economics Assessment
Potential New Tool To Detect Hydrogen Sulfide
Cholera-Causing Bacteria's Response To Environmental Pressure

Route Of Delivery Affects Antibiotic Resistance  

Cholera Resistance Clues Revealed In Genome Study

Treating TB: What Needs To Be Done To Improve Treatment Rates

New Insights Into How Antibiotics Damage Human Cells Suggest Novel Strategies For Making Long-Term Antibiotic Use Safer

Communication Between Bacteria Helps Them Resist Antibiotics

Added Benefit Not Proven For Fidaxomicin In Clostridium Difficile Infection

Bacteria Speak "Universal Language" In Order To Build Up Antibiotic Resistance

Super-Quick Test for Bacteria Thanks to Nano-Sized "Tuning Forks"

Diagnostic Test Identifies Most Leading Causes Of Bacterial Blood Stream Infection Accurately And Swiftly 

Global Scenario of Bacteria, Infections, Antibiotics and Resistance- By Dr. A. J. Tamhankar (Research Associate: Sandeep Nerkar)

Association Between Childhood Pneumonia And Indoor Environment Factors In Modern Homes
Hand Washing Averts Petting Farm IllnessesRhode Island Hospital Reduces Incidence Of Hospital-Associated C. Difficile By 70 Percent
Staph Bone Infections Have A New Model, And Possibly A New Treatment
Rapid Detection Of Foodborne Pathogens Following Recent Progress In Gene-Sensing Strategies
Low Doses Of Silver Make Bacteria More Susceptible To Antibiotic AttackSilver Boosts Effect Of Antibiotics
Chip Identifies Bacterial Infection In Minutes, Not Days
Making Bacteria Make More Antibiotics More QuicklyLab Reproduction Of A Marine Compound With Antibiotic Properties
Vibativ For Bacterial Pneumonia Approved By FDA
HIV-Derived Antibacterial Shows Promise Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria
Good Bacteria To Treat Drug Resistant InfectionsPersistent And Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Effectively Destroyed By New Compound

Global Scenario of Bacteria, Infections, Antibiotics and Resistance- By Dr. A. J. Tamhankar (Research Associate: Sandeep Nerkar)

Tuberculosis Pathogen Proteome Atlas
Discovery Could Increase The Effectiveness Of Certain Antibiotics 
Why Old Schizophrenia Medicine Works On Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria 
Potential For Medicinal Clays In Fight Against Antibiotic-Resistant Infections 
New HPA Guidance Includes DIFICLIR™ (fidaxomicin) To Curb Clostridium Difficile infection 
Huge Number Of Infections Prevented In Intensive Care Units 
Widespread But Neglected Disease Leptospirosis A Significant Health Threat In Africa 
More Effective Treatment Of Complex Infections Likely With Cutting-Edge Bacteria Research 
The Role Of Double-Stranded RNA In Antiviral Host Defense Systems 
Hospital Stays, Costs, Reduced By Antibiotic Stewardship Program Using Mass Spec System 
Infection And Sepsis-Related Mortality Hot spots Identified Across The US 
Poop Bacteria In Most Public Swimming Pools, USA 
20% Of Handbags Carry More Bacteria Than A Toilet 

Global Scenario of Bacteria, Infections, Antibiotics and Resistance- By Dr. A. J. Tamhankar (Research Associate: Sandeep Nerkar)

Antibiotics May Cure 40% Of Chronic Back Pain Cases 

Rapid, Accurate Diagnosis Of Tuberculosis And Other Bacterial Infections Using Portable Device 

The Interaction Of Social Amoeba And Bacteria Defined By Genes 

Bacteriophages Eradicate Bacteria On Medical Implant Materials 

The Use Of Nanosilver As An Antimicrobial Agent With Biomedical And Environmental Applications

During Formation Of Treatment-Resistant Colonies, 'Lucky' Bacteria Strike It Rich 

Pitt's Serendipitous Scientific Discovery Holds Potential In Destroying Drug-Resistant Bacteria 

Link Between Anti-Depressants And Clostridium difficile Infection 

Antibiotic Resistance Detected By New Biosensor 

Serendipitous Scientific Discovery Holds Potential In Destroying Drug-Resistant Bacteria 

Global Scenario of Bacteria, Infections, Antibiotics and Resistance- By Dr. A. J. Tamhankar (Research Associate: Sandeep Nerkar)

Unprecedented Insight Into Causes Of Pneumococcal Disease Offered By Genome Sequencing

Protein Complex Found In Breast Milk Forces Drug-Resistant 'Superbugs' Including MRSA To Respond To Antibiotics Again

Hospital Over-Use Of Antibiotics Can Be Reduced By Targeting Prescribers 

New Genre Of Antibodies Offer Hope In The Fight Against Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria 

A Step Closer To Understanding Why Antibiotics Are Ineffective Against Certain Types Of Bacteria

Bacteria Evolve Resistance More Quickly When Stronger Antibiotics Are Used

 Not Enough Is Being Done To Educate Those Living In Border Communities About The Long-Term Effects Of Antibiotic Overuse And Misuse

In-Hospital And Outpatients Are Faced With Different Problems In Antibiotic Resistance 

Progress In Antibiotic Development 'Alarmingly Elusive' Despite Superbug Crisis 

Battle Of The Bugs: Can Combining Antibiotics Increase Antibiotic Resistance?

Parents Tend To Share More Bacteria With Family Dogs Than Children 

Despite Superbug Crisis, Progr ess In Antibiotic Development 'Alarmingly Elusive'

Not Enough Is Being Done To Educate Those Living In Border Communities About The Long-Term Effects Of Antibiotic Overuse And Misuse 

In-Hospital And Outpatients Are Faced With Different Problems In Antibiotic Resistance 

Progress In Antibiotic Development 'Alarmingly Elusive' Despite Superbug Crisis 

Much Of American Meat Contaminated With Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria 

TB Rates Need To Drop 10 Times Faster For Elimination By 2050 

WHO – World Hand Hygiene Day celebrated - WHO 

UK – new strain of C difficile, ribotype 332, killed threepatients in one health board area of Scotland recently – BBC News 

Austria - ”When the hospital is unhealthy”; reports on SSI from ECCMID Berlin; recent figures from ECDC cited, with 37 000 deaths in Europe yearly from HAI, of around 4.1 million HAI:s totally – Salzburger Nachrichten 

Malta – high rates of MRSA in patients (10 – 15%)  admitted to Mater Dei hospital nowmotivates new routines on admission –  Times of Malta 

US-  ”Nightmare bacteria” on the rise in US hospitals and long term care facilities – ”In 2012, only a decade after the CDC first identified a case of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in a North Carolinalong-term care facility, nearly 5% of acute care hospitals and nearly 18% of long-term care facilities reported at least 1 carbapenem-resistant infection associated with health care, according to a CDC report” – JAMA network 

Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD)

The CaT Secretariat is sharing the attached editorial from Margaret Chan (WHO) and Tony Lake (UNICEF) and links for the complete documents on the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) which have now been released:

http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/documents/global_action_plan_pneumonia_diarrhoea/en/index.html

Related to this, the Lancet series of papers on Pneumonia and Diarrhoea can be accessed at:

www.thelancet.com/series/childhood-pneumonia-and-diarrhoea

There has also been a lot of media coverage - selected articles which may be of particular interest include the following:

  

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/11/us-children-idUSBRE93A18M20130411

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/sarah-boseley-global-health/2013/apr/12/vaccines-child-mortality

BLOG from Seth Berkley: 

http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/taking-the-fight-to-pneumonia-and-diarrhea-by-seth-berkley-1d35dc0146f86f3c1282a404

Statement of support: 

http://www.gavialliance.org/library/news/statements/2013/immunisation-one-key-intervention-to-end-two-million-preventable-child-deaths-each-year/

We would like to highlight that CaT Member, Dr Zulfi Bhutta, played a leading role in development of the GAPPD.

The CaTS was consulted during the early development of this document and we appreciate the effort made by Dr Osman Mansoor to include CaT.

As with the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), as country and regional discussions are initiated, lets all work to assure that the control and prevention of enteric fever and in particular typhoid and paratyphoid fever is included in the GAPPD work plans, as appropriate.

Article:

Some 19000 children under the age of 5 years die each and every day, with 5500 of these deaths caused by pneumonia and diarrhoea. These are not mere statistics. 2 million young lives are lost each year from these two eminently preventable causes of death.This situation is completely unacceptable. Despite the fact that the basic elements needed to reduce childhood deaths from pneumonia and diarrhoea are well known and of low cost, current coverage is appallingly low.

We welcome the Lancet Series on Childhood Pneumonia and Diarrhoea.The Series provides the evidence base to make the case that ending preventable child deaths from pneumonia and diarrhoea within the next 12 years is ambitious but achievable and necessary. Momentum to reduce child mortality continues to build, and it is imperative for the world’s children that we take advantage of this opportunity.

As we approach the 1000-day mark before the Millennium Development Goal deadline, a raft of interconnected initiatives provides a platform to accelerate progress. The UN Secretary-General’s widely endorsed Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health aims to save 16 million lives through a “continuum of care” approach; a Global Vaccine Action Plan is working towards universal access to immunisation by 2020; more than 170 countries have signed on to A Promise Renewed, the call to action spearheaded by the Governments of Ethiopia and India, UNICEF, and USAID to end all preventable child deaths by 2035; and the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children is helping to improve access to priority medicines.

In this context, it is critical to intensify efforts to tackle pneumonia and diarrhoea—the two biggest killers of children younger than 5 years after the newborn period, which account for about 29% of all under-5 deaths. A new WHO/UNICEF Integrated Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea5 aims to help countries meet this goal by establishing healthy environments to protect children from pneumonia and diarrhoea and by increasing access to cost-effective interventions for both prevention and treatment.

 The Integrated Plan builds upon two previous plans from 2009: the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia6 and Why Children are Still Dying and What Can be Done,7 a seven-point plan for comprehensive diarrhoea control. We have encouraged the use of cost-eff ective prevention—eg, exclusive breastfeeding, vaccines, and access to clean water—and treatment with simple, inexpensive antibiotics, oral rehydration salts, and zinc. Now we must help countries unplug the bottlenecks that are keeping these services from the children who need them.

Children who are poor, hungry, and living in remote areas are most likely to suffer from these “forgotten killers”, and the burden that pneumonia and diarrhoea places on their families and on health systems aggravates existing inequalities. Identifying the children at greatest risk, who are the hardest to reach and the most neglected, and targeting them with interventions that are proven to work will close the gap and end these entirely preventable deaths. Better coordination and integration are key to tackling pneumonia and diarrhoea. The determinants that underlie these diseases are often the same. The children at risk of diarrhoea are the same ones at risk of pneumonia.

 The strategies for prevention are similar, and the places where systems need strengthening to deliver services in communities, clinics, and hospitals are also common to both diseases. The Integrated Plan makes a strong case for more efficient integration and identifies key steps to be taken. It will help countries to analyse local data, act on the results, and monitor progress towards clear, achievable goals. This requires a concerted effort to use a systematic approach of sharpening evidence-based planning and implementation at all levels, and ensuring eff ective systems of monitoring and accountability for results, within existing frameworks such as the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health and Countdown to 2015.

We must also build on lessons learned and the good practices and innovations that some countries have been applying, which include strengthening primary care; removing financial barriers to access; expanding the role of non-governmental providers; establishing public private partnerships; and making use of new mobile.This is not a job for the health sector alone. Successful implementation of the Integrated Plan requires engagement of families, health-care providers, and key actors in water and sanitation. There must also be strong cooperation among UN agencies, national governments, and the private sector. And it must begin today.

Margaret Chan, *Anthony Lake

WHO, Geneva, Switzerland (MC); and UNICEF, New York, NY 10017,

USA (AL)

alake@unicef.org

technologies to achieve sustainable, quality services.

Protect your world - get vaccinated

To highlight the extensive body of knowledge collected in developing the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), the journal Vaccine today released a special supplement dedicated in full to the Decade of Vaccines. This supplement includes the complete GVAP, a foreword by the DoVC Leadership Council, an editorial by the Steering Committee Co-Chairs and members of the DoVC Secretariat and 27 companion documents that link with the GVAP six strategic objectives.

At the heart of the GVAP for the decade and beyond will be equity, collaboration, innovation and country ownership, so that every individual can have access to life-saving vaccines. The series of papers published in this supplement were commissioned to further explore these themes. It is our hope that stakeholders will use the knowledge collected here in developing their own strategies for realizing the ambitious goals set for the decade.

As this is our final message, we hope that you will join countries around the globe to celebrate World Immunization Week 2013 (20-30 April). There truly is a collaborative push towards achieving universal and equitable access to vaccines.

World Immunization Week 2013

The global slogan for this year’s world immunization campaign is “Protect your world - get vaccinated”. Regional themes are:

• Africa:  Save lives, Prevent disabilities, Vaccinate!
• Americas: Vaccination, a shared responsibility
• Eastern Mediterranean: Stop measles now!
• Europe: Protect. Prevent. Immunize.
• South-East Asia: Intensification of routine immunization
• Western Pacific: Finish the job – no more measles for anyone.                                             
• Topics included in the supplement: The needs, challenges and opportunities in development; delivery and costing; health benefits; vaccine technologies; science based regulations; public and political support; pricing and procurement; implementation research and health systems; introduction of new vaccines; vaccine supply and logistics systems; equity and perspectives of civil society, developing countries, and vaccine manufacturers in developed and developing countries