A New Global Threat Is Lurking |『超级细菌』来势汹汹

Japan has confirmed the nation's first case of a new gene in bacteria that allows the microorganisms to become drug-resistant superbugs. NDM-1 was detected in a man that was undergoing medical treatment in India. The gene, which appears to be circulating widely in India, alters bacteria and makes them resistant to nearly all known antibiotics. Researchers say that since many Americans and Europeans travel to India and Pakistan for procedures like cosmetic surgery, it is likely the superbug gene will soon spread worldwide.

To battle the superbug, the WHO recommends that governments focus their efforts on four areas. These are surveillance, rational antibiotic use, legislation to stop the sale of antibiotics without prescription, and rigorous infection prevention measures, such as hand-washing in hospitals.

　　日本已证实该国首起超级细菌感染案例，这种细菌里的新型基因会导致微生物产生抗药性。这种名叫 NDM-1 的基因是从一位在印度接受医学治疗的民众身上所发现。这种基因似乎已在印度广泛散播，它会改变细菌本身结构，使它们对几乎所有已知的抗生素产生抗药性。研究人员指出，由于很多美国和欧洲民众为了接受如整容手术等治疗而到印度及巴基斯坦旅游，所以超级细菌很可能迅速散播到世界各地。

　　世界卫生组织建议，要对抗超级细菌，各国政府应该将重点放在 4 个方面――持续监控、合理使用抗生素、立法禁止在没有医师处方签的情况下贩卖抗生素，和诸如在医院里勤洗手等严格的预防感染措施。

 

For Your Information

NDM-1 超级细菌最早是两年前在印度发现，它是一种酵素基因，可以进入大多数细菌的粒腺体中存活。之所以被称为超级细菌，是因为科学家发现，它几乎对所有抗生素都具有抗药性，目前仅有两种抗生素有效，临床医师未来诊治遭感染的病患时，可能面临要使用多种抗生素治疗的挑战。然而医药专家更担心的是，长久下来，恐怕会出现无药可用的无敌细菌。

由于 NDM-1 已经攻陷全球至少 10 多个国家，卫生署疾病管制局紧急在今年 9 月 9 日晚间正式公告，将『NDM-1 肠道菌感染症』列入第四类法定传染病。因为并非空气传染，病人不必强制隔离，卫生署呼吁医疗院所和医师一旦发现疑似病例，必须在 24 小时内通报，同时将病毒株送到卫生署进行确认。（数据源：中时电子报、NOWnews 今日新闻网）