Latest news with #superbug
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Foreign aid cuts could lead to millions more dying from superbug infections by 2050, study warns
The growing global health crisis of superbug infections could undo decades of progress in medicine, according to a new report, which warns that foreign aid cuts could lead to millions more dying worldwide by 2050. Without collective global action, growing cases of infections caused by such antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) microbes could cost the global economy nearly $2trillion, the UK government-funded research says. The research forecasts the future impact of AMR on global economies under different scenarios of interventions across regions, income groups, and countries. Bacteria have been evolving resistance to the antibiotics used by doctors to kill them in recent years, causing even what used to be the simplest-to-treat infections to become potentially life-threatening. With scientists locked in a race to create and improve access to a 'new generation' of drugs capable of defeating even the most resistant of such superbugs, global research funding cuts risk stalling progress. If the superbug spread continued at the same trend as seen since 1990 in a 'business-as-usual' scenario, it could lead to nearly 39 million deaths between 2025 and 2050, a growing body of studies suggests. However, if there is improved access to antibiotics against such bacterial infections, it could avert 90 million deaths over this period, the latest report estimates. Better access to antibiotics could lead to a $19bn annual reduction in healthcare costs by 2050, they say. 'This scenario would increase global GDP by $269bn over the business-as-usual scenario. The health benefits from this intervention would be worth half a billion dollars if disability-adjusted life years are valued at the GDP per capita of a given country,' scientists noted. In comparison, the worst-case scenario of an accelerated rise in AMR at the rate of the bottom 15 per cent of countries could lead to an additional 6.7 million people dying from infections, they warn. The report comes following the UK government's Thursday announcement that it was axing the Fleming Fund – a major £265m British programme combating AMR in developing countries. 'Without effective interventions, health care costs could increase by $176bn per year by 2050, and global output could be $1.7trillion lower than in the business-as-usual scenario,' the report noted. Previous research suggests that combating superbugs would require 6 to 15 new drugs developed for treatment per decade. Scientists estimate this could require an annual additional research and development cost of $2.2bn. 'If all high-income countries funded this research and development in proportion to their GDP, it would cost them 0.0036 per cent of GDP in 2025,' they wrote. 'For these new drugs to provide the promised health benefits, people across the world must have access to them. We estimate that it would cost $59bn to ensure that all countries have outcomes for bacterial infections that match the quality of treatment currently available in the 85th percentile of countries,' researchers noted. Considering these economic and health benefits, scientists say there would be 'excellent value for money' offered by these global interventions.
Daily Mail
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Leslie Ash, 65, makes a rare appearance using a pink walking stick at Lido Festival for Charli XCX headline show after sharing health update
Leslie Ash made a rare appearance using a pink walking stick as she stepped out for Lido Festival on Saturday. The Men Behaving Badly star, 65, shared an update on her health earlier this year, two decades after contracting an MSSA superbug that nearly left her unable to walk. But the star spoke out about her health in an update in April, where she said she has defied doctors who said she would likely be in a wheelchair by the age of 16 thanks to rehabilitation and regular gym sessions. In her latest outing, Leslie kept it casual as she arrived at London's Victoria Park for Lido Festival - the first fully battery-powered main stage, running on 100% renewable energy from wind and solar. Leslie sported a white oversized shirt tucked into dark blue denim slim-leg cropped jeans and a pair of pink trainers as she enjoyed the festival with her husband, former footballer Lee Chapman, 65. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Leslie reflected on the incident that changed her life earlier this year. She was admitted to hospital in April 2004 after cracking two ribs during a fall from bed amid an intimate moment with her husband Lee. But it was while she was in hospital for this injury that she contracted a 'deadly strain' of the MRSA superbug because of an abscess that had developed in her spinal column - which could have left her permanently unable to walk. Leslie revealed she was only given a 'slight hope of recovery' by doctors, who thought she'd be wheelchair-bound by the time she was 60 due to a life- changing spine condition. Against all odds, the Quadrophenia star has bounced back and rarely relies on a trusty walking stick, let alone a wheelchair. She was awarded a record £5 million in compensation in 2008 after acquiring the infection in hospital. Then 20-years later, Leslie spoke to Charlotte Hawkins and Richard Madeley on Good Morning Britain about her current health state in April. She said: 'I will never be the same as I was, obviously. But yeah, It is 20 years exactly and It's fine. 'I love working still, I can still do bits. Nowhere near what it was before but I'm feeling really really really good. I'm very healthy.' She added: 'They said I'd be in a wheelchair by the time I was 60 but I think, I'm ver lucky. You know, my husbands helped me with my rehab and getting me into the gym. 'And really making sure that I stay fit. You've got to keep your core strong. There are so many things you have to do, mentally as well.' The Men Behaving Badly star previously admitted she needed 'mental strength' to keep fighting her condition, but has defied doctors expectations. Leslie, who was given a bleak prognosis following the string of unfortunate events, told The Sun: 'They said I'd be in a wheelchair by 60 because of my terrible hips and knees. 'I was only given a slight hope of recovery but because I wanted it enough I was able to achieve what I have today.' Back in 2008, Leslie successfully sued the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and won an astonishing £5million in compensation, as she had contracted the antibiotic-resistant MSSA form of the infection after an epidural needle came loose. The payout was so hefty because there was a belief she would not return to ongoing TV roles - and the compensation reflected the future loss of earnings. Of the importance of staying optimistic, the Oxfordshire-born star said: 'If I sat down and did nothing I'd be in a wheelchair now, without a doubt.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Sound Alarm Over Plastic-Eating Bacteria in Hospitals
A powerful bacterial superbug is making headlines for its unique and alarming ability to feed on plastic found in medical devices. Researchers at Brunel University of London have discovered that Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a drug-resistant bacterium linked to over 559,000 deaths globally each year, has developed a disturbing survival mechanism. The bug not only resists treatment but can also 'digest' polycaprolactone, a type of plastic used in common medical tools like sutures, catheters, implants, and wound dressings. According to a groundbreaking study published in Cell, this adaptation helps the bacterium cling to hospital environments, creating tougher biofilms that resist antibiotics and standard cleaning protocols. 'Plastics, including plastic surfaces, could potentially be food for these bacteria,' said study leader Ronan McCarthy. 'Pathogens with this ability could survive for longer in the hospital environment.' The discovery is a chilling reminder that pathogens are constantly evolving to thrive in unexpected ways. In this case, Pseudomonas aeruginosa isn't just surviving—it's actively undermining medical devices designed to save lives. The plastic-eating enzyme it produces could weaken critical tools like ventilators, drug-delivery patches, and surgical meshes, making them less effective and harder to sterilize. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already lists P. aeruginosa as a major contributor to infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, particularly among patients with compromised immune systems or those recovering from more research is needed to determine the full extent of this superbug's capabilities, SciTech Daily reported that McCarthy emphasized the urgency: 'Plastic is everywhere in modern medicine, and it turns out some pathogens have adapted to degrade it. We need to understand the impact this has on patient safety.' With its ability to withstand antibiotics and thrive on plastics in hospitals, Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a dual threat. One that could reshape infection control strategies and force a rethink of how medical tools are designed and Sound Alarm Over Plastic-Eating Bacteria in Hospitals first appeared on Men's Journal on May 26, 2025
Telegraph
26-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
First new antibiotic in 50 years to tackle superbug
The first new antibiotic in 50 years to tackle a common superbug will be tested on patients. The drug, which targets one of the bacteria considered to pose the biggest threat to human health, has been hailed as an 'exciting' development in the fight against antibiotic resistance. On Monday, Roche, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant, announced that it will take zosurabalpin into the third and last phase of testing on humans. It is the first drug in five decades to show promise of tackling Acinetobacter baumannii, a pathogen which is described as a 'priority' by the World Health Organisation and an 'urgent threat' by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US national public health agency. The drug-resistant bacteria disproportionately impact patients who are in the hospital, causing infections such as pneumonia and sepsis. It is estimated that between 40 and 60 per cent of infected patients, many of whom are immunocompromised because of conditions such as cancer, die as a result of the bug. One of the reasons it is so difficult to treat is that it has a double-walled 'membrane' protecting it from attack, so it is difficult to get drugs into it and to keep them in, experts say. Zosurabalpin, which has been developed alongside researchers at Harvard University, targets the 'machine' which stops the outer membrane from forming properly. It works differently to all existing antibiotics and it is hoped that it could lay the foundations for future drugs. Drug-resistant bacteria Michael Lobritz, global head infectious diseases at Roche, said: 'Our goal is to contribute new innovations to overcome antimicrobial resistance, one of the biggest infectious disease challenges to public health.' The phase-three trial, which it is hoped will start later this year or in early 2026, will look at around 400 patients with a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii (CRAB) infection who will either receive zosuarbalpin or the current standard of care. It is hoped that the drug will be approved by the end of the decade. Larry Tsai, senior vice president and global head of immunology and product development at Genentech, a unit of Roche, said that the drug-resistant bacteria 'are present in every country of the world' . He said that 'the innovative biology involved in this research could potentially reveal new insights into the structure of bacterial membranes, possibly leading to the discovery of new antibiotics in the future'. Pharmaceutical companies, including Roche, have in the past been unwilling to pursue new antibiotics because of a difficult market in which the drugs are used sparingly to try and avoid resistance. However, the UN has warned that if nothing is done to address the issue, drug-resistant diseases could cause 10 million deaths each year by 2050 and cause a worldwide financial crash. 'Exciting development' Dr Alistair Farley, scientific lead at the Ineos Oxford Institute, has welcomed zosurabalpin as an 'exciting development' for the field. 'There is an urgent unmet clinical need to develop new antibiotics against priority pathogens such as CRAB where antimicrobial resistance is a major concern,' he said. Dr Farley added that it 'may provide a route to the development of new drugs'. Studies showing that it worked 'extremely well' in test-tubes and mice were published in the journal Nature earlier this year. Prof Laura Piddock, scientific director of the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership, said at the time that it provided 'definite hope' for other hard-to-treat infections. 'What is exciting about this discovery is that one of the building blocks that are part of the outer part of this bacterial cell is disrupted by this new drug,' Prof Piddock said. Antimicrobial resistance was declared by world leaders to be 'one of the most urgent global health threats' at the UN General Assembly earlier this year. The declaration committed members to establish independent panels on antimicrobial resistance, as many have done for climate change, and to reduce deaths linked to resistance by 10 per cent by 2030.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital superbug can feed on medical plastic, first-of-its-kind study reveals
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A superbug that commonly causes infections in hospitals can feed on plastic used for medical interventions, potentially making it even more dangerous, a world-first study has found. The bug is a bacteria species called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is commonly found in hospital environments and can cause potentially deadly infections in the lungs, urinary tract and blood. Now, scientists have analyzed a strain of this bacteria from a hospital patient's wound, which revealed a surprising trick that could enable it to persist on surfaces and in patients for longer — its ability to break down the biodegradable plastics used in stints, sutures and implants. The researchers published their findings May 7 in the journal Cell Reports. "It means we need to reconsider how pathogens exist in the hospital environment," study lead author Ronan McCarthy, a professor in biomedical sciences at Brunel University of London, said in a statement. "Plastics, including plastic surfaces, could potentially be food for these bacteria. Pathogens with this ability could survive for longer in the hospital environment. It also means that any medical device or treatment that contains plastic could be susceptible to degradation by bacteria." The team's laboratory study raises the need for further research to better understand how this plastic-eating ability affects the bug in realistic hospital environments, in which specific cleaning protocols are in place to help prevent exposing patients and medical instruments to bacteria. P. aeruginosa is thought to have rapidly evolved over the last 200 years to infect humans as they began living in densely populated areas, especially among those with weakened lungs due to air pollution. Related: Dangerous 'superbugs' are a growing threat, and antibiotics can't stop their rise. What can? Since then, many strains of the bug have acquired resistance to a wide variety of antibiotics. These resistant microbes can contaminate catheters and ventilation devices, making P. aeruginosa a common cause of hospital-acquired infections, especially among vulnerable patients. P. aeruginosa is tied to roughly 559,000 deaths per year globally, the majority of which are associated with antimicrobial resistance. Yet how the bacteria can thrive in ostensibly sterile hospital environments has remained unclear. To investigate, the researchers took a swab from a patient's wound in a British hospital and analyzed it, which revealed the bug can make an enzyme named Pap1. This enzyme is able to break down the plastic polycaprolactone (PCL) — commonly used in sutures, wound dressings, surgical meshes and other medical equipment — and release the plastic's carbon, which P. aeruginosa can then feed on. To test whether this enzyme is really responsible for breaking down plastic, the scientists inserted the gene that codes for Pap1 into Escherichia coli bacteria, and found that when that bacteria expressed the enzyme, it too was able to break down PCL. The team further confirmed the enzyme's plastic-eating role when they deleted the gene that codes for it in a P. aeruginosa variant, finding that the microbe was no longer able to dissolve the plastic. RELATED STORIES —How fast can antibiotic resistance evolve? —AI could identify the next superbug-fighting drug —Scientists have found a secret 'switch' that lets bacteria resist antibiotics — and it's been evading lab tests for decades The bug's plastic-chewing power doesn't just seem to be granting it a food source: It is also making it more dangerously resistant to treatment. This is because the bacteria uses plastic fragments to form hardier biofilms — structures with protective coatings that shield superbugs from antibiotics — the researchers found. The scientists also identified similar enzymes in other bacteria, meaning that other widely used medical plastics could be providing sustenance and improved resilience to additional superbugs, possibly contributing to hospital-acquired infections. To follow up on this, the researchers have called for urgent research on the prevalence of the plastic-eating enzymes among other pathogens, and for experts to reconsider the plastics they use in medical settings, and the ways that they monitor hospital environments. "Plastic is everywhere in modern medicine, and it turns out some pathogens have adapted to degrade it," McCarthy said. "We need to understand the impact this has on patient safety." This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
