A team of scientists from Norway and the United Kingdom examined the causes of multidrug-resistant bacteria, also known as superbugs. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Lancete Microbe (LanMic).
Experts compared more than 700 E. coli samples with 5,000 previously sequenced samples. Widespread use of antibiotics leads to an increase in treatment-resistant microbes, findings suggest, but this is not always the case. Results depend on both the type of drug and the genetic composition of the bacteria.
Drug resistance rates in E. coli also vary around the world; It varies between 8.4% and 92.9% depending on the country.
Analysis of almost 20 years of data showed that the use of non-penicillin beta-lactam antibiotics in the United Kingdom has led to a three- to five-fold increase in the incidence of resistant E. coli strains compared to Norway, where these drugs are sold. It is not as widely used.
However, it has also been revealed that the most commonly prescribed antibiotic in the UK is trimethoprim, but its use does not lead to higher levels of resistance in pathogenic bacteria.
More research into the genome of E. coli and other pathogens is needed to fully evaluate the cumulative impact of various factors on superbugs, the scientists added.
Previously AppearedChlorine disinfectants turned out to be virtually harmless against common superbugs.