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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Gujarat hospitals see worrying resistance to powerful antibiotics
SLUG: STATE's AMR PROFILE Ahmedabad: A recent govt study has revealed a worrying trend in Gujarat's hospitals — some of the most powerful antibiotics are no longer effective against common bacterial infections. The report found that more than 40% of E. coli and Klebsiella bacteria — two major antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens often responsible for serious infections — are now resistant to carbapenems, a high-end antibiotic typically used when all others fail. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad This is one of the key findings of the surveillance report by the Gujarat State Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (GUJSAR), released on Wednesday. The report analysed 14,685 AMR isolates collected between July 1 and December 31, 2024, from 22 network laboratories, including microbiology labs of six govt medical colleges, 13 GMERS medical colleges, and three municipal corporation-run medical colleges. "While other drugs are still available — including colistin, the last resort for very severe bacterial infections — resistance to carbapenems signals that we are rapidly running out of feasible antibiotic options for serious infections. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 今すぐ、2025年最高のRPGゲームを制覇しよう！ BuzzDaily Winners ゲームをプレイ Undo Switching to a higher class of antibiotics also brings short-term and long-term side effects," said a senior city-based microbiologist. A senior state health department official told TOI that Gujarat is among the few Indian states with a dedicated AMR surveillance network. "All steps — from identifying antimicrobial resistance to specific antibiotics to reporting isolates — are standardized," the official said. T he report focuses on priority pathogens, identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as posing the highest threat to human health due to their resistance to existing antibiotics. The findings show that the majority of AMR isolates were from urine samples (42%), followed by pus aspirates (31%). About 62% of the isolates came from hospitalized patients, and 16% from patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Sources said that AMR organisms have been rising steadily — a trend also highlighted in Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) reports. "In recent years, gram-negative bacteria have shown increased resistance to several commonly used antibiotics. Some bacteria isolated from blood cultures also showed resistance, suggesting that if the correct antibiotics are not administered in time, it can lead to septicaemia — a potentially life-threatening bloodstream infection," said a microbiologist.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
India-Trinidad Tobago sign six MoUs to boost cooperation
Port of Spain [Trinidad and Tobago] July 5 (ANI): India and Trinidad and Tobago have signed six agreements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the Caribbean nation to strengthen bilateral cooperation in key areas, including infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, development projects, sports, education, cultural exchange programs and diplomatic training. The six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed following delegation-level talks between PM Modi and his Trinidad and Tobago counterpart Kamla Persad-Bissessar in Port of Spain on Friday. The MoUs include an agreement on the Indian Pharmacopoeia, which aims to provide improved access to Indian pharmaceutical products in the Trinidad and Tobago market, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated in a statement. To strengthen the development corporation partnership between the two countries, an agreement was signed for an Indian grant to implement Quick Impact Projects (QIP). Agreements were also signed to strengthen cooperation in sports, diplomatic training and the re-establishment of two ICCR Chairs of Hindi and Indian Studies at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Trinidad and Tobago. An MoU on the Programme of Cultural Exchanges for the period 2025-2028 was also signed. Along with the MoUs, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced the extension of the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards facility up to 6th generation of Indian Diaspora members in Trinidad and Tobago, allowing them to live and work in India without restrictions. Earlier, this facility was available up to the 4th generation of Indian Diaspora members in the Caribbean nation. PM Modi also gifted 2000 laptops to school students in Trinidad and Tobago and announced formal handing over of agro-processing machinery (USD 1 million) to the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) and the holding of Artificial Limb Fitment Camp (poster-launch) in Trinidad and Tobago for 50 days for 800 people. The Indian Prime Minister further announced that under the 'Heal in India' program, specialised medical treatment will be offered to Trinidad and Tobago citizens. He also gifted twenty Hemodialysis Units and two Sea ambulances to the Caribbean nation to assist in the provision of healthcare. PM Modi announced the solarisation of the headquarters of T&T's Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs by providing rooftop photovoltaic solar panels. Enhancing the cultural ties between both nations, PM Modi announced the celebration of Geeta Mahotsav at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Cultural Cooperation in Port of Spain, coinciding with the Geeta Mahotsav celebrations in India. Earlier, Trinidad and Tobago PM Kamla Persad-Bissessar said that the nation is honoured to adopt the Indian UPI system and collaborate on India stack tools such as Aadhaar and DigiLocker to modernise public services. 'Trinidad and Tobago is honoured to adopt the Indian UPI system and collaborate on India stack tools such as Aadhaar and DigiLocker to modernise public services. On behalf of the children of Trinidad and Tobago, I thank you for your gift of 2000 laptops.' 'We are in discussions with Indian companies to participate in various energy-related projects here in Trinidad and Tobago. We are proud to join India-led initiatives such as the Global Biofuels Alliance,' she added. After concluding his visit to Trinidad and Tobago, PM Modi embarked on his visit to Argentina for the 3rd leg of his five-nation tour. PM Modi is headed for Buenos Aires at the official invitation of the President of the Republic of Argentina, Javier Milei. He will hold bilateral talks with President Milei to review ongoing cooperation and discuss ways to enhance further the India-Argentina partnership in key areas, including defence, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade, investment, and people-to-people ties. (ANI)
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Exclusive - Biology Beyond Earth: How Space Station Is Shaping Human Life in Space
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is visiting a home away from Earth that has seen continuous human presence for a quarter of a century and is floating around 400 kilometres above Earth. For most millennials, the idea of humans living and working in space has been a constant reality. Since November 2000, the International Space Station (ISS), a football-field-sized laboratory orbiting 400 kilometres above Earth, has hosted a continuous human presence. But beyond the awe of astronauts floating in microgravity, the ISS has quietly become one of the most important biological laboratories in human history. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, influential NASA biologist Dr Sharmila Bhattacharya shared how two decades of biological research aboard the ISS are not only preparing us for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars but also transforming our understanding of human health on Earth. A Living Lab in Orbit "The first few years were about building the station," Dr Bhattacharya explained. "But for the last 15 to 20 years, we've been doing very active science as an international community." That science spans a wide range of biological disciplines. Researchers studied how spaceflight affects muscle loss, bone density, cardiovascular health, immune function, and even kidney-stone formation. These studies are essential because space is an extreme microgravity environment, radiation and isolation take a toll on the human body. And yet, astronauts have not only survived but thrived. "They go fit and come back fit," said Dr. Bhattacharya. "But that's because they're some of the fittest people on Earth and follow strict exercise and diet regimens." The Brain in Space One of the most fascinating areas of research has been the effect of spaceflight on the brain. Dr Bhattacharya's team used fruit flies, Drosophila, as a model organism to study neurological changes. "We found that in space, there were definite effects on the brain," she said. To test whether these effects could be mitigated, her team created artificial gravity using a centrifuge aboard the ISS. "We were able to partially reverse some of the defects we saw in the nervous system," she noted. This has major implications for future missions, especially those lasting years, such as a round trip to Mars. Preparing for Mars A journey to Mars could take six to nine months one way, with astronauts staying for several months before returning. That means humans will need to survive in deep space for up to two years, facing elevated radiation and reduced gravity. "The ISS has taught us a lot about microgravity," Dr Bhattacharya said. "But the Moon has one-sixth Earth's gravity, and Mars has one-third. We need to understand how partial gravity affects biology." A recent collaboration between NASA and the Japanese Space Agency used mice to study biological changes under different gravity levels-Earth, Moon, Mars, and microgravity. "It was a really interesting experiment," she said, adding that "because it helped identify thresholds where certain biological systems begin to change." Plants in Space: More Than Just Food Beyond human biology, the ISS has also become a greenhouse in orbit. Astronauts have successfully grown lettuce, tomatoes, and other crops. "Some of the tomatoes were very well appreciated by the crew," Dr. Bhattacharya said. Plant habitats on the ISS are not just functional; they are emotional anchors. "They're well-lit, so when crew members celebrate birthdays or holidays, they often gather near the plants. It's like the beautiful garden in space." These experiments are crucial for future missions, where astronauts will need to grow their food. They also help scientists understand how plants respond to microgravity, which could lead to agricultural innovations back on Earth. The Microbial Frontier Space is also a frontier for microbiology. Dr Bhattacharya's team studied how bacteria behave in space and found that some, like Serratia marcescens, became more virulent after spaceflight. "They killed fruit flies faster than bacteria that hadn't gone to space," she said. Interestingly, this increased pathogenicity disappeared when the bacteria were grown again on Earth. "We wanted to understand the molecular biology behind that change and what made them more dangerous in space," she explained. "These enclosed environments give us insights into microbial ecosystems, not just in space but also in places like submarines or hospitals on Earth," Dr Bhattacharya said. Astronauts as Test Subjects Over 600 astronauts have flown to space, many of them to the ISS. Their bodies have become invaluable data sources. "We've grown multiple generations of fruit flies, Caenorhabditis elegans, and even plants in space," Dr. Bhattacharya said, adding that "Now we're doing longer and longer experiments." One of the most exciting upcoming studies involves MRI scans of astronauts' brains before and after spaceflight, as part of the Axiom 4 mission. "Given what we've seen in fruit flies, I'm very interested to see what the human data shows," she said. The End of an Era, and the Start of Another The ISS is expected to be retired by 2031. But Dr Bhattacharya is optimistic. "I celebrate what the ISS has given us," she said. "But I'm also looking forward to the next platform." That next step could be a commercial space, perhaps Axiom, Haven, or VAST. China already has its space station, and India is planning one too. "The more platforms we have in space, the more science we can do as a global community," she said. Why It Matters for Earth While the focus is often on preparing for Mars, the benefits of space biology are already being felt on Earth. From understanding immune responses to developing better exercise regimens, the research done in orbit is improving healthcare on the ground. "Basic biology helps us understand not just how to live in space, but how to live better on Earth," Dr Bhattacharya said. A New Age of Exploration As humanity looks beyond Earth, the ISS stands as a testament to what international cooperation and scientific curiosity can achieve. It has been a proving ground for the biology of the future where humans may one day live on the Moon, Mars, or even beyond. And thanks to scientists like Dr. Sharmila Bhattacharya, we're not just dreaming about that future, we're building it, one fruit fly at a time.
