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posted by martyb on Sunday January 13 2019, @12:47AM   Printer-friendly
from the it's-Hepatitus-A,-ruuun dept.

According to the CDC a suberbug acquired during bariatric surgery in Tijuana just got worse.

The superbug that infected nearly a dozen Americans who recently underwent weight-loss surgery at a Tijuana hospital had a particularly nasty genetic mutation that set off alarm bells after patients began showing up in hospitals and doctors officers[sic] with painful wounds.

Pseudomonas is a common bacteria found normally in the environment the world over and generally poses little threat unless you have a weakened immune system or are sick.

Dr. David “Cal” Ham, a CDC medical officer, said Friday that the particular strain of pseudomonus bacteria involved in 11 confirmed cases had metallo-beta lactamase genes. Often called “VIM” by the epidemiological community, Ham explained that these genes cause the microbes that carry them to excrete enzymes that destroy carbapenems, a workhorse class of antibiotics with some of the broadest efficacy in medicine.

One patient has died, some have recovered, and others

are still in hospitals suffering as doctors work down a dwindling list of available options.

Dr. Ham added

“Several of the isolates involved are susceptible only to a couple of, I would say, less-than-optimal antibiotics that have significant side effect profiles.”

The pseudomonus strains in question were already drug resistant, adding the ability to ward off carbapenems makes the already serious threat even more deadly.

The inexorable decline of antibiotics continues.


Original Submission

Related Stories

New Compounds Found Which Illuminate and Kill Drug Resistant Gram Negative Bacteria 10 comments

University of Sheffield and Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) scientists have discovered several new related (dinuclear RuII) compounds which visualize and kill gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli (note - no word on whether it works on synthetic E.coli)

Bacteria are classified generally by what type of staining works on them using a method developed in the 1800's by Hans Christian Gram. 'Gram-negative' bacteria retain a stain color that shows them as a pinkish red coloring, these bacteria have cell walls that make it difficult to get drugs into them and many gram-negative bacteria have become significantly or even completely resistant to available drug treatments.

A new drug in the difficult gram-negative space is particularly important. Drug resistant bacteria already cause the deaths of over 50 thousand people a year in the US and EU alone, and as many as 10 million people a year could die worldwide every year by 2050 due to antibiotic resistant infections.

Doctors have not had a new treatment for gram-negative bacteria in the last 50 years, and no potential drugs have entered clinical trials since 2010.

The new drug compound has a range of exciting opportunities. As Professor Jim Thomas explains: "As the compound is luminescent it glows when exposed to light. This means the uptake and effect on bacteria can be followed by the advanced microscope techniques available at RAL.

"This breakthrough could lead to vital new treatments to life-threatening superbugs and the growing risk posed by antimicrobial resistance."

The studies at Sheffield and RAL have shown the compound seems to have several modes of action, making it more difficult for resistance to emerge in the bacteria.

Better yet

Mammalian cell culture and animal model studies indicate that the complex is not toxic to eukaryotes, even at concentrations that are several orders of magnitude higher than its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).

The researchers plan to test the compounds against additional multi drug resistant bacteria next.

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  • (Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:13AM (15 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:13AM (#785729)

    Yeah, and the price is lower FOR A REASON !!!

    I've seen enough cars built in Mexico that I want anything that matters to be done somewhere other than Mexico.

    For you poor little easily offended SJWs, this is not "racism" or "prejudice", it is just observation of reality combined with many years of experience. The standard for how things are done is simply lower in Mexico than it is in places like Switzerland or Germany. If the facts bother you, that is simply proof that you allow yourself to operate based on emotion rather than logic.

    • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:30AM (5 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:30AM (#785732)

      If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, its a nazi.

      • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:46AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:46AM (#785734)

        Looks to me like you can't come up with any cogent argument so you resort to an ad hominem attack which fails because it has no basis.

        You're stupid. You lose.

        But then you're used to both of those conditions, aren't you.

      • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:47AM (3 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:47AM (#785736)

        Can nazi ducks goose step?

        • (Score: -1, Flamebait) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:59AM (2 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:59AM (#785742)

          Some day someone is going to kick your teeth in for you.

          And when they do, remember you asked for it.

          • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @07:42AM

            by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @07:42AM (#785828)

            Maybe so, but I'll still have my biting humor.

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:40PM

            by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:40PM (#786073)

            Yeah, and some day, you're going to get fucked because you are a deliciously sensitive pussy. And remember, you asked for it!

    • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:53AM (6 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:53AM (#785739)

      Its not even that. They're not going to hit up a top tier mexican medical facility or the prices would be comparable. They'll do mexican discount plastic surgery clinics, especially ones that cater to foreigners that want cheap cheap cheap.

      • (Score: 4, Informative) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:09AM (4 children)

        by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:09AM (#785746) Homepage

        In Border California, our medical insurance is accepted by a lot of practitioners in Mex. I would use that option if I needed braces or a teeth-cleaning (hint: I do) or easy access to Viagra and opiates (I don't) but when it comes to something invasive I'll stay domestic, thank you very much. I've seen the movie Turistas and would also rather avoid the stray gunshots, corrupt cops, and pickpockets.

        • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:45AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:45AM (#785810)

          You'll probably keep your kidney too then ;)

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:10PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:10PM (#785886)

          but i thought even the likes of rush limbaugh benefitted from above-normal doses of Viagra?

          maybe you are more manly than rush.

        • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:36PM (1 child)

          by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:36PM (#786071) Journal

          would also rather avoid the stray gunshots, corrupt cops, and pickpockets.

          I've never thought of Eth as some kind of fucking sissy. All that shit just adds local color. Oh - wait - can I still say that? Is "local color" racist now?

          • (Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday January 14 2019, @05:41PM

            by Freeman (732) on Monday January 14 2019, @05:41PM (#786513) Journal

            At the least it's probably not PC.

            --
            Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
      • (Score: 4, Funny) by driverless on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:17AM

        by driverless (4770) on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:17AM (#785851)

        So how do we keep the superbugs out? By building a wall. MAsuperbugfreeA!

    • (Score: 2, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @06:04AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @06:04AM (#785813)

      Tijuana doesn't even have a working sewer system. Ask anyone in San Diego. If you drink the water... you're drinking STD's. Mod parent up... He's right.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @12:43PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @12:43PM (#785879)

      i'd believe you if your republican party actually did something to stop outsourcing.

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by takyon on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:16AM

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:16AM (#785730) Journal

    Cuts through the pounds like a hot knife into butter! Get infected today!

    --
    [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:36AM (4 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @01:36AM (#785733)

    I wonder if it also reduces the "appetite" of really obese people. Or do they have an entirely different type of problem unrelated to the carbohydrate-induced addiction most people have?

    • (Score: 1, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:13AM (3 children)

      by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:13AM (#785748) Homepage

      AIDS* reduces the appetites of really obese people and to get it in Mex all you have to do is wander into certain establishments and pay the somewhat good-looking-woman-with-bumps-all-over-her-face woman ten American dollars for some fun.

      Only drawback is, like many cosmetic treatments, the effects are worse in the long-term. In case you don't believe me, you can ask the Bogandoff twins or Melania Trump.

      * Known as "SIDA" in the Mexican

      • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:16AM (2 children)

        by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:16AM (#785751)

        AIDS can take 5-20 years to develop, that is not a viable weight loss solution.

        https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-long-does-it-take-for-hiv-to-progress-to-aids-47885 [verywellhealth.com]

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:48AM (1 child)

          by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:48AM (#785812)

          Crazy glue your lips shut. It will work.

          • (Score: 2) by HiThere on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:30PM

            by HiThere (866) Subscriber Badge on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:30PM (#785938) Journal

            Not your lips, your teeth.

            --
            Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by krishnoid on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:22AM (1 child)

    by krishnoid (1156) on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:22AM (#785754)

    So does that mean that this strain is widespread in (at least) Tijuana? How do they handle this there?

    • (Score: 2) by HiThere on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:31PM

      by HiThere (866) Subscriber Badge on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:31PM (#785939) Journal

      The *SUMMARY* said it was usually harmless unless you had a weak immune system.

      --
      Javascript is what you use to allow unknown third parties to run software you have no idea about on your computer.
  • (Score: 2) by Some call me Tim on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:23AM (3 children)

    by Some call me Tim (5819) on Sunday January 13 2019, @02:23AM (#785755)

    Give me Ham on 5, hold the MAYO.

    --
    Questioning science is how you do science!
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @03:06AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @03:06AM (#785771)

      I was going to say that vim's meddling always yields painful outcomes, /bin/vi all the way!

    • (Score: 2, Funny) by Ethanol-fueled on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:04AM (1 child)

      by Ethanol-fueled (2792) on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:04AM (#785798) Homepage

      Fuck you motherfuckers. Hold the Mayo!

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Sunday January 13 2019, @03:45AM (1 child)

    by MichaelDavidCrawford (2339) Subscriber Badge <mdcrawford@gmail.com> on Sunday January 13 2019, @03:45AM (#785781) Homepage Journal

    I at first through she was fat so I rationed her food until she lunged at a bowl of beans. Then I thought she was pregnant. "Happens all the time" said an employee of the pet supply store where I stocked up on kitten chow.

    When I took her to the vet for a prenatal exam that vet gave me the bad news: her abdomen was filled with a viscous liquid. There is no cure nor treatment.

    Even so, she had a good quality of life for the next few months. But when that fluid got into her brain, that she was completely paralyzed, unable even to shut her eyes led me in the middle of the night to take her to a twenty-four hour vet to beg they put her out of her misery.

    To the best of my knowledge there is only _one_ researcher in the entire planet that is seeking a treatment.

    Requiescat In Pace, my beloved Cricket.

    --
    Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
    • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:02AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @05:02AM (#785796)

      that is a terrible way to treat your sister

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @09:04AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 13 2019, @09:04AM (#785838)

    VIM is causing people to get sick.

  • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Sunday January 13 2019, @11:57AM (1 child)

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Sunday January 13 2019, @11:57AM (#785872) Homepage Journal

    I can understand wanting cheaper healthcare or options not offered here but having surgery in a place known for providing things that are too fucked up to be allowed in California is asking for a Darwin Award.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    • (Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:46PM

      by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Sunday January 13 2019, @10:46PM (#786078) Journal

      Come on, Buzzard. This is CALIFORNIA you're talking about. They don't even allow you to dump your medical waste in the reservoir. You can't dump your radioactive waste on the school grounds. You can't to ANYTHING in California! They get grouchy if you have an open pit barbeque in the forest, FFS!

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