Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Bad bugs cause infections, says expert

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: Hospital-acquired infections are a cause for concern because critically ill patients, who may have successfully undergone organ transplants or therapy, may succumb to various other infections in the intensive care unit because of drug resistance.

Most drugs kill sensitive bacteria and keep alive the `bad bugs,' says George H. Karam, Paula Gravey Manship Professor of Medicine, L.S.U. School of Medicine in New Orleans, United States.

It is these bad bugs that cause infection. Sometimes bad bugs are carried home by the patients and into the community. Even those who have never been to a hospital may get an infection, Dr. Karam says.

He addressed a conference of physicians at Sri Ramachandra Medical College here on Saturday.

Antibiotics that are expected to treat bacteria or fungi could, in fact, cause harm, he says. Among the bacteria there is a set that are genetically resistant and do not die. Instead, strong and excess dosage ends up killing sensitive, good bacteria.

Unlike in America, the rate of hospital-acquired infection in India is higher many times because bacteria here have higher resistance. Also, the use of over the counter drugs causes resistant strains that require other modalities of treatment.

"There is something called attributable mortality. Use of powerful generic drugs have created resistant strains," he says. The resistant strains are found more commonly in people undergoing transplantation and cancer therapy. Infections in people suffering from urinary tract problems are high.

Appropriate use of antibiotic, he contends, will limit drug-resistant strains and prevent mortality.

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