Cancer Causes Bacteria Gains Resistance to Antibiotics, Says Scientists

The study conducted by the Kasturba Medical College of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and the tertiary care hospital, which is said to be the first of its kind in Karnataka, found that Helicobacter Pylori, a bacterium that resides in the stomach human and causes ulcers, gastritis and stomach cancers, has gained resistance to three commonly used antibiotics: metronidazole, levofloxacin and clarithromycin.
The aim of the study was to obtain information on the prevalence and mechanism of drug resistance in Helicobacter-related diseases to help develop strategies with more rational combinations of antibiotics for treatment.
So, now these medications may not be able to provide relief.
The KMC scientists who participated in the study were Dr. Mamatha Ballal (Team leader), Dr. Vignesh Shetty, Dr. Ganesh Pai, Dr. Ramachandra L, Dr. Shiran Shetty and the UWA scientists. Dr. Alfred Tay, Dr. Eng Guan Chua and Binit Lamichhane.
This will also help to implement accurate therapy and, therefore, prevent the recurrence of infections.
The team noted that, to their knowledge, this is the first study to examine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance of H pylori in Karnataka. Mamatha Ballal from MAHE was the team leader in the study. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and mechanism of drug resistance in Helicobacter-related diseases to help develop strategies with more rational combinations of antibiotics for treatment.
In a statement here, MAHE said that this study can act as a solid foundation for advancing national epidemiological surveillance that will be beneficial in evidence-based treatment and also as an administrative follow-up to the eradication of Helicobacter, if the first-line treatment line fails.
The KMC working group plans to present a kit for rapid detection of drug resistance in bacteria that would help doctors to modulate the treatment regimen.
For their study, the scientists collected tissue from 180 patients who tested positive for helicobacter infection while receiving treatment at Kasturba Medical College and the tertiary care hospital. The patient data set was composed of people from nine districts of Karnataka. They were able to isolate helicobacter strains from 113 patients, which were then tested for their resistance to five commonly used antibiotics.
The results showed that 14% of the strains were resistant to all the antibiotics tested and 59.3% of 59.3% of the strains were resistant to more than one antibiotic: 86% of this strain were resistant to both metronidazole and levofloxacin. This means that, for all practical purposes, metronidazole and levofloxacin are not more potent against helicobacter infections in Karnataka.
In terms of resistance to individual antibiotics, there was 81 percent resistance against metronidazole, 54.9 percent against levofloxacin, 20.4 percent against clarithromycin, 5.3 percent against tetracycline, and 7.1 percent against amoxicillin.
"This study can act as a solid foundation for advancing national epidemiological surveillance, which will be beneficial in evidence-based treatment and also as an administrative follow-up of Helicobacter eradication if the first-line treatment fails," he added.
By: Preeti Narula
Content: https://health.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/diagnostics/cancer-causing-bacteria-gains-antibiotic-resistance-find-scientists/70139868