Superbug resistant to even the strongest of antibiotics has emerged in India and soon could spread w...

1. Deadly superbug thriving in wastewater treatment plants in
the U.S. - National Disease & Illness
Superbug resistant to even the strongest of antibiotics has emerged in India and soon could spread
worldwide: The Lancetwww.grabnetworks.com
These findings raise potential public health concern say researchers
Cellulitis is a spreading
bacterial infection of the skin and tissues beneath the skin.GettyImages
Researchers found that
the "superbug" (MRSA) is present in some of the U.S. watertreatment plants.GettyImages

2. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium responsible for several difficult-to-
treat infections in humans and is well known to its difficulty to treat due to its resistance to beta-lactam
antibiotics that include penicillin's and the cephalosporins such as Cephalexin. It has been
affecting people in hospitals and communities since the late 1900'S. In 1999, a report showed that
MRSA infections reached 127,000 in 1999, with as many as 11,000 people dying from the deadly
Superbug, according to the CDC.
The incidence of of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA)
infections is increasing in the United States, according to the studies abstract.
Dr. Amy R. Sapkota, PhD, assistant professor in the Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental
Health and lead researcher stated "we still do not fully understand the potential environmental
sources of MRSA or how people in the community come in contact with this microorganism." "This
was the first study to investigate U.S. wastewater as a potential environmental reservoir of MRSA."
Because infected people can shed MRSA from their noses and skin and through their feces,
wastewater treatment plants are a likely reservoir for the bacteria. Swedish researchers have
previously identified the presence of MRSA in WWTPs in Sweden, and this new UMD-led study
confirms the presence of MRSA in U.S. facilities.
The research team collected wasteÂwater samples from two Mid-Atlantic and two Midwest wasteÂ-water
treatment plants between October 2009 and October 2010. These plants were in part chosen
due to treated effluent (reclaimed water produced by wastewater treatment plant) is reused new
orleans flood pumps as "reclaimed wastewater" in spray irrigation activities. The research team was
interested in finding whether MRSA remained in the effluent.
Samples were analyzed for MRSA and MSSA using membrane filtration (a technique which is used
to separate particles from a liquid for the purpose of purifying it). Isolates were confirmed using
biochemical tests and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was
performed by Sensititre® microÂbroth dilution. PLV screening and PFGE were done to further
identify the strains.
The researchers found MRSA in 50% of the samples and MSSA in 55% of the wastewater samples.
Only one waste water treatment plant had the bacteria in the treated water leaving the plant and
this was at a plant that does not regularly use chlorination, a tertiary step in wastewater treatment.

3. Among the MRSA strains 93% that
were isolated from wastewater and
29% of MSSA were resistant to two or
more classes of antibiotics which had
included several that the FDA had
specifically approved to treat MRSA
infections.
The researchers write in their
conclusion "our findings raise potential
public health concerns for wasteÂ-water
treatment plant workers and
individuals exposed to reclaimed
wasteÂwater. Because of increasing
use of reclaimed wasteÂwater, further
study is needed to evaluate the risk of exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria in treated wasteÂ-water."
The research team included University of Maryland School of Public Health and University of
Nebraska Medical Center researchers.
This study appears in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
According to the FDA bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics by these common causes:
Using antibiotics for illnesses that aren't
caused by bacteria. Some patients have
asked their doctors for antibiotics to treat
viral infections such as colds and the flu.
Viral infections do not respond to
antibiotics.
Giving antibiotics to food-producing
animals such as cattle, chickens, and pigs.
These drugs are given to animals not only
for health reasons, but also to increase
production.
Failing to take antibiotics as directed.
Some people stop taking an antibiotic as
soon as they feel better, instead of completing the full dose.
For more information on recognizing and preventing MRSA infections can be viewed online at the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.