A new study from researchers at the University of Calgary, published in Lancet Infectious Diseases, examines the possible rise of antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli, including the potentially-lethal 0157:H7 strain. Researchers seem to be worried that the resistant strains may be becoming more common in hospital settings in the near future, calling for increased funding to track the spread of these resistant strains.
The study examined numerous surveys from the past seven years from a variety of countries, tracking the growth of antibiotic-resistant E. coli. The authors stated, according to The Press Association, "These bacteria have become widely prevalent in the community setting in certain areas of the world and they are most likely being imported into the hospital setting."
The researchers studied strains of E. coli that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), which is an enzyme that makes the bacteria resistant to most commonly used antibiotics in hospitals. The United Kingdom’s Health Protection Agency has already begun working with the National Health Service to begin addressing this potentially dangerous problem so that the risks associated with these resistant E. coli strains will be minimized. The information gathered will be important not only for the care of hospital patients in Europe, but also in the United States.
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