“Tourism spreading antibiotic resistant superbugs new study reveals”

“People who have travelled to areas of the world with high rates of antibiotic resistant bacteria such as South Asia and the Middle East are more likely to carry superbugs, a new study has found.

Even having a housemate who has travelled to these areas increases the chance of carrying resistant gut bacteria called ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae, the research showed.

In central Birmingham infection rates were found to be as much as three times higher than other parts of the UK because of the city’s links to South Asia.

Enterobacteriaceae are bacteria such as E.coli and Klebsiella which everyone carries in their bowel harmlessly and with no symptoms. Yet occasionally they can get into the wrong part of the body and cause wounds, urinary tract, lung and bloodstream infections which can be deadly.”

Source: The Telegraph

Publication: Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy