Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Video | Business Headlines | Internet | Science | Scientific Ethics | Technology | Search

 

Antibiotic resistant organisms on the increase

ESR microbiologist Kristin Dyet says emerging antibiotic resistant organisms are of increasing concern.

ESR’s Antibiotic Reference Laboratory is responsible for national surveillance of antimicrobial resistance among human pathogens, on behalf of the Ministry of Health.

The World Health Organisation’s Antibiotic Awareness Week, which began on Monday, (Nov 12) highlights increasing concerns about the emergence of bacterial strains showing resistance to all classes of antibiotics commonly used in human medicine.

Dr Dyet says data from local and international sources is used to provide information on antimicrobial resistance in New Zealand.

“We obtain test results from hospital and diagnostic laboratories and also undertake our own testing to give us information on antimicrobial and use that to put together facts and figures on antimicrobial resistance.

“Laboratories are asked to send all isolates (samples) of particular emerging resistant organisms to ESR for particular emerging resistant organisms – some are the ‘super bugs’ that have recently garnered attention in the media,” Dr Dyet says.

“ESR then looks at the characteristics of the organism using the most up-to-date technology, including if it’s susceptible or resistant.

“This is followed by some molecular-based testing looking at the genes that are actually present – either just the antimicrobial resistant gene or the entire genome in a technique called whole genome sequencing.”

Dr Dyet says the number of organisms that are resistant to antibiotics is rising.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“One of the antimicrobial resistant organisms that we are particularly concerned about at the moment is the carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriaceae (CPE) – the numbers that we have seen this year are already higher that what we saw in all of 2017, so yes, we are certainly seeing an increase of such organisms referred to this laboratory,” Dr Dyet says.

Listen to Dr Dyet explain ESR’s role in antimicrobial surveillance.

https://youtu.be/aoBOxUdrBlk


ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Business Headlines | Sci-Tech Headlines

 
GenPro: General Practices Begin Issuing Clause 14 Notices

GenPro has been copied into a rising number of Clause 14 notices issued since the NZNO lodged its Primary Practice Pay Equity Claim against General Practice employers in December 2023.More

SPADA: Screen Industry Unites For Streaming Platform Regulation & Intellectual Property Protections

In an unprecedented international collaboration, representatives of screen producing organisations from around the world have released a joint statement.More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.