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Canada warns of resistant infection
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canadian health officials are warning travelers about a new antibiotic-resistant superbug that emerged in India and has already entered Canada, they say.
Alberta Health Services officials say an Alberta man contracted the infection, dubbed NDM-1, while in a hospital in India, the Edmonton Journal reported Friday.
Those who travel abroad and return home well don't need to be concerned, Dr. Mark Joffe, senior medical director of infection, prevention and control for Alberta's health board, said.
Only those who feel ill, with infected wounds, fevers, blood in their urine or pain during urination, should seek medical care, he said.
"This is the latest twist on what is really an old story which is the gradual accumulation of resistance to antibiotics that we see in bacteria," Joffe said. "This is something we've been watching for 60, 70 years, since penicillin first became available. We are concerned about it for sure. We are concerned about it globally."
Canada should expect more cases, Joffe said.
"It would be naive to think we are just going to have one and maybe 170 (cases) globally and that's the end of it," he said. "It's going to continue. That's the reality of modern life.
"This has been a slow evolution of resistance over many years," Joffe said. "This is not a radical shift by any means."
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canadian health officials are warning travelers about a new antibiotic-resistant superbug that emerged in India and has already entered Canada, they say.
Alberta Health Services officials say an Alberta man contracted the infection, dubbed NDM-1, while in a hospital in India, the Edmonton Journal reported Friday.
Those who travel abroad and return home well don't need to be concerned, Dr. Mark Joffe, senior medical director of infection, prevention and control for Alberta's health board, said.
Only those who feel ill, with infected wounds, fevers, blood in their urine or pain during urination, should seek medical care, he said.
"This is the latest twist on what is really an old story which is the gradual accumulation of resistance to antibiotics that we see in bacteria," Joffe said. "This is something we've been watching for 60, 70 years, since penicillin first became available. We are concerned about it for sure. We are concerned about it globally."
Canada should expect more cases, Joffe said.
"It would be naive to think we are just going to have one and maybe 170 (cases) globally and that's the end of it," he said. "It's going to continue. That's the reality of modern life.
"This has been a slow evolution of resistance over many years," Joffe said. "This is not a radical shift by any means."
