China brews superbugs

[Guest guest]

China brews superbugs

PETER FOSTER BEIJING February 7, 2010

CHINA'S reckless use of antibiotics in its health system and agricultural

production is fuelling an explosion of drug-resistant superbugs that threaten

global health.

Scientists have warned that Chinese doctors routinely prescribe multiple doses

of antibiotics for sore throats, while farmers' excessive dependence on the

drugs has tainted the food chain.

Studies in China show a rise in antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as MRSA.

There are fears new strains of antibiotic-resistant organisms could spread

quickly through international air travel and food sourcing.

''We have a lot of data from Chinese hospitals and it shows a very frightening

picture of high-level antibiotic resistance,'' said Dr s Heddini, of the

Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control.

''There is a real risk that globally we will return to a pre-antibiotic era of

medicine … [and] a situation where a number of medical treatment options would

no longer be there.''

Resistance rates of MRSA in Chinese hospitals had more than doubled from 30 per

cent to 70 per cent, warned Xiao Yonghong, of the Institute of Clinical

Pharmacology at Beijing University. Last year, researchers found a new strain of

MRSA in Chinese pigs imported to Hong Kong and called for urgent studies into

its potential to infect humans after the new strain was confirmed in Guangzhou,

where many of the pigs had been farmed.

A Beijing health expert with access to unpublished surveys said they showed the

situation in China was actually worse than earlier studies had indicated.

''The Chinese ministry of health has all the data but seems unable or unwilling

to believe it,'' the expert said. ''The situation has global implications and is

highly disturbing.''

The ministry did not respond to requests for an interview or information. New

prescription guidelines to restrict antibiotic use were issued by the ministry

in 2004.

''The guidelines are not being followed effectively,'' Professor Xiao said.

''Over just the last five years, for example, our studies show the rate of

antibiotic-resistant E. coli has quadrupled from 10 per cent to 40 per cent.''

Public health experts say the overuse of antibiotics is primarily caused by an

underfunded health system where hospitals derive up to half of their operating

income from selling drugs.

''In Chinese hospitals, our data shows that 60 per cent of inpatients are being

prescribed antibiotics compared with the World Health Organisation guideline of

30 per cent,'' said Professor Xiao, who is the head of China's National

Antibiotic Resistance Investigation Network.

China's state food and drug administration bans the sale of antibiotics without

a prescription but the majority of chemists sell antibiotics after a cursory

consultation with a ''patient'' who complains of a sore throat.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/china-brews-superbugs-20100206-njvp.html