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Indian Express
01-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Lancet study shows drug resistance three times higher in cancer patients: What are risk factors?
Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are the second leading cause of death in cancer patients, according to a new study published in The Lancet Oncology. Researchers analysed over 1.5 million pathogens (including over 50,000 from patients with cancer) and found that counts of different antimicrobial-resistant bacteria were between 1.2 and three times greater in outpatients with cancer. The study is significant because it is the first large multi-centre study to quantify AMR bacteria in outpatients with cancer in the US. The bacteria was isolated from adults aged 18 and older, with and without cancer, at 198 outpatient facilities. The authors have highlighted that the higher counts of AMR bacteria in outpatients with cancer may be due to the use of antibiotics they received during chemotherapy. Study co-author and Fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (FIDSA) Vikas Gupta, says AMR is a growing global health crisis. 'Given the rising rates of AMR globally, more specifically in India, and the increasing drug resistance in vulnerable cancer populations, there should be careful consideration about antibiotic stewardship. This means optimising the use of antibiotics, maximising their efficacy while minimising their harm. Additionally, surveillance efforts to quantify AMR among the cancer-affected population must be undertaken because cancer incidence is projected to increase,' he says. What the study says Data was collected between April 1, 2018, and Dec 31, 2022. Across all evaluated pathogens, outpatients with cancer had significantly higher AMR rates per 1,000 pathogen isolates for P aeruginosa and Enterococcus spp compared to non-cancer outpatients. Why cancer patients are at a higher risk The results are not unexpected for Dr Abdul Ghafur, consultant in infectious diseases, Apollo Hospital, Chennai and coordinator of the Chennai Declaration on AMR (not attached with the study). 'Cancer patients are at a higher risk because they visit hospitals and healthcare facilities much more frequently than non-cancer patients — before the diagnosis, during the diagnostic process, and later for chemotherapy, radiotherapy, outpatient visits and multiple admissions. With each hospital visit, each admission, and each infection episode, the exposure to antibiotics increases. Naturally, more infections require a higher antibiotic exposure, which means a higher risk of developing drug-resistant bacterial infections,' he says. Not only a cancer patient's problem, AMR needs global strategy In cancer patients, the AMR crisis is not a 'silent pandemic' but a very visible, overt pandemic. Since patients are immune-compromised, infections have more severe consequences. 'At our cancer centre, approximately 20% of E. coli and 40–50% of Klebsiella isolates are carbapenem-resistant. Mortality is notably higher in cancer patients infected with drug-resistant bacteria compared to those infected with drug-susceptible strains. This trend holds true in both cancer and non-cancer patients,' says Dr Ghafur, arguing for a well-designed antibiotic policy at the hospital level to reduce mortality. He also argues for a detailed data collection from patients to formulate an antibiotic use policy. 'In cancer patients, antibiotic therapy must begin without delay — there is no time to wait. 'With the right data, one can make an informed choice to improve patient outcomes,' he adds.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First death in US measles outbreak is unvaccinated child in Texas
The current outbreak is centred in north-western Texas, with measles also recently found across the state's border in New Mexico, as well as Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York City and Rhode Island, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Most US children receive two immunization shots to protect against the illness, which together are 97% effective in protecting against measles, according to the CDC. Vaccination rates in Texas are 94.3%, according to the CDC, which is below the 95% level that the Infectious Diseases Society of America says is needed to also protect those who are not immunized, commonly called "herd immunity". According to the society, the last US measles death was in 2015. A measles infection can have particularly devastating complications for pregnant women and young children, including pneumonia, neurological impairment, hearing loss and death. Survivors are at risk of developing a degenerative brain and nervous system disease known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE). US measles outbreak leaves nearly 100 ill in Texas and New Mexico
South China Morning Post
31-01-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Pages wiped from US government websites as Trump targets ‘gender ideology'
Public health data disappeared from websites, entire web pages went blank and employees erased pronouns from email signatures on Friday as federal agencies scrambled to comply with a directive tied to US President Donald Trump's order rolling back protections for transgender people. The Office of Personnel Management directed agency heads to strip 'gender ideology' from websites, contracts and emails in a memo sent on Wednesday, with changes ordered to be instituted by 5pm on Friday. It also directed agencies to disband employee resource groups, terminate grants and contracts related to the issue, and replace the term 'gender' with 'sex' on government forms. Much public health information was taken down from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention's website: contraception guidance; a fact sheet about HIV and transgender people; lessons on building supportive school environments for transgender and non-binary children; details about National Transgender HIV Testing Day; a set of government surveys showing transgender students suffering higher rates of depression, drug use, bullying and other problems. Some pages appeared with the message: 'The page you're looking for was not found.' 03:03 Trump signs series of executive orders on first day back in White House Trump signs series of executive orders on first day back in White House Disease experts said eliminating resources created dangerous gaps in scientific information. The Infectious Diseases Society of America, a medical association, issued a statement decrying the removal of information about HIV and people who are transgender. Access is 'critical to efforts to end the HIV epidemic,' the organisation's leaders said.
