Latest news with #S.Typhi
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Ancient killer drug-resistant typhoid strains is becoming untreatable and spreading across the globe; study warns
Drug-resistant typhoid fever is spreading rapidly across borders, raising concerns among scientists and public health authorities. A recent UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report has identified a troubling rise in typhoid and paratyphoid fever cases, particularly in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These infections, traditionally associated with poor sanitation in developing countries, are now resurfacing with a vengeance, this time in the form of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid strains. Driven by antibiotic resistance and global travel, these Salmonella Typhi superbugs are posing a major challenge to current treatment protocols. Experts warn that the clock is ticking to contain the spread before it becomes a full-blown global crisis. Drug-resistant typhoid becomes global threat, study warns A groundbreaking 2022 study found that S. Typhi is developing resistance to nearly all classes of commonly used oral antibiotics. Researchers analysed 3,489 bacterial genomes from India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The results showed a dramatic rise in XDR strains—those resistant to older drugs like ampicillin and chloramphenicol, and newer ones such as fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins. Perhaps most concerning is the worldwide spread of these superbugs. The study documented at least 197 instances of international dissemination of XDR Typhi since 1990. These strains have moved beyond South Asia to East and Southern Africa, Southeast Asia, and even into Western countries like the UK, USA, and Canada. The scale and speed of this spread indicate that antibiotic-resistant typhoid is no longer a regional issue—it is a global emergency. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lead author Dr. Jason Andrews of Stanford University warned that the rapid evolution and spread of drug-resistant typhoid demand immediate international intervention. He emphasised that containment efforts must go beyond national borders and include vaccination, sanitation improvements, genomic surveillance, and new drug development. UK records Typhoid surge in 2024 underscoring global health risk The UKHSA's 2024 data recorded 702 typhoid cases, marking an 8% increase from 2023—the highest number ever documented. Though most infections were acquired abroad, this spike emphasizes the global nature of the threat. Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and are typically spread through contaminated food or water. According to the BBC, typhoid and paratyphoid; a fever caused nearly 13 million infections and 133,000 deaths annually. These diseases disproportionately affect school-aged children in Asia and Africa, though they are increasingly seen in wealthier nations due to intercontinental travel and migration. Despite their persistence, these illnesses often remain neglected by health systems in developed countries. Poor data undermines fight against drug-resistant typhoid The study also highlights data limitations. Several regions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Oceania, are underrepresented in genomic databases. Most available samples come from limited surveillance sites, meaning that current estimates likely understate the true scale of drug-resistant typhoid's spread. Scientists are calling for expanded genomic sequencing and international data sharing to track and curb these deadly strains more effectively. With antibiotic resistance rising, XDR typhoid now represents one of the biggest microbial threats of our time. While vaccines and improved public health systems can slow its advance, only a coordinated, global effort will prevent this ancient killer from claiming more lives in a modern world ill-prepared for it. Also Read |
NDTV
2 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Ancient Killer That Doctors Can No Longer Stop Is Spreading Worldwide: Study
A recent study warns that typhoid fever, an ancient disease that has plagued humanity for millennia, is rapidly evolving dangerous resistance to available antibiotics. While often overlooked in developed nations, this persistent threat remains a significant danger, particularly in our modern interconnected world. Research published in 2022 indicates that Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S Typhi), the bacterium responsible for typhoid, is developing extensive drug resistance. This concerning trend sees highly resistant strains quickly replacing those that can still be treated with existing medications. Currently, antibiotics are the sole effective treatment for typhoid. However, over the past three decades, S. Typhi's resistance to commonly used oral antibiotics has steadily increased and spread. The study, which analyzed the genetic makeup of 3,489 S. Typhi strains collected between 2014 and 2019 from Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, revealed a significant rise in extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Typhi. These XDR strains are not only immune to older, frontline antibiotics such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole but are also showing increasing resistance to newer, critical antibiotics like fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins. Compounding the problem, these highly resistant strains are spreading globally at an alarming pace. While the majority of XDR Typhi cases originate from South Asia, researchers have documented nearly 200 instances of international dissemination since 1990. The spread has primarily extended to Southeast Asia, as well as East and Southern Africa, with some typhoid "superbugs" also detected in Western countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. This global spread underscores the urgent need for heightened surveillance and new treatment strategies. Lead author, Dr Jason Andrews, Stanford University (USA), says: "The speed at which highly-resistant strains of S. Typhi have emerged and spread in recent years is a real cause for concern, and highlights the need to urgently expand prevention measures, particularly in countries at greatest risk. At the same time, the fact resistant strains of S. Typhi have spread internationally so many times also underscores the need to view typhoid control, and antibiotic resistance more generally, as a global rather than local problem."
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Are antibiotics losing battle against typhoid?
1 2 3 Ahmedabad: A recent study has raised alarm bells about the growing resistance of typhoid-causing bacteria to several antibiotics, in some cases up to 90%, potentially complicating treatment options for this common disease. This study by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) scientists, along with other organisations, is the latest among several studies in the past decade that flagged the rise of AMR typhoid in Gujarat and in India. Researchers studied isolated Salmonella Typhi or S Typhi, the bacteria responsible for typhoid fever, collected from Ahmedabad and Vadodara against 28 antibiotics used for treatment of typhoid and found several of them showing over 90% resistance. The group also pinpointed genes for third-generation antibiotics for some classes and suggested another class of antibiotics. Typhoid fever, caused by contaminated food or water or poor hygiene, is a common disease for Asia, Africa and Latin America and is marked by fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, rashes and in extreme cases, intestinal bleeding. Symptoms generally last for five to six days and doctors generally use antibiotics for treatment. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo In Ahmedabad city, monsoons often see 200-odd cases a month. The study, 'Comprehensive analysis of extensive drug-resistant Salmonella Typhi in Gujarat region, India: genomic findings and prospective alternative therapy' was recently published in the American Society for Microbiology journal Microbiology Spectrum. Its authors include SD Akshay, Heli Upadhyaya and 16 others from GBRC, MS University of Baroda, BJ Medical College, state govt's Commissionerate of Health, and Toprani Labs in Vadodara. 'Determining fluoroquinolones (FQs) and third-generation cephalosporin resistance underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategiesOur research revealed alarming resistance trends to key antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole, amikacin, ampicillin, cefepime, cefixime, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and gentamicin, limiting effective hospital treatment approaches,' the findings state. The researchers also highlighted the role of specific plasmids that carry resistance genes.'Our findings revealed that combination therapy with β-lactam antibiotics and β-lactam inhibitors (BLI) significantly improved the treatment efficacy against extensively drug resistant (XDR) S. Typhi, contributing to more favourable clinical results and reducing treatment failures,' read the findings, adding that this can effectively manage infections and avoid resistance development. Health experts in Ahmedabad say that the drug-resistant typhoid has been a reality for nearly a decade, in varied frequencies. Dr Urvesh Shah, professor and head of GCS Medical College's microbiology department, said that quinolone, the drug of choice a decade ago, is now getting resistant in more than 50% cases. "While third-generation cephalosporin are a drug of choice, we now get scattered cases of its resistance, which is alarming. While azithromycin retains its sensitivity, it should be given as a supplementary drug only," said Dr Shah, adding that the bottom line from such findings is steady rise of drug-resistant bacteria which should be addressed through proper use of drugs, their proper duration, and correct diagnosis. Dr RC Damani, internal medicine specialist at KD Hospital, said that compared to the scenario a decade ago, the medical fraternity is now forced to look at alternatives for the AMR typhoid. "Treatment protocols have changed today for antibiotic use. There is better screening also for determining typhoid cases," he said, adding that not all cases of typhoid are of AMR organisms. "The two popular methods to confirm typhoid are blood culture to determine bacteria and sonography to find signs such as swollen lymph nodes. While some start treatment for symptoms, the wrong use of antibiotics can add to the burden of AMR. Typhoid is a very common disease and we have seen a change in form of its duration from five days to seven days and treatment from oral medication to IV in serious cases," said Dr Pragnesh Vachcharajani, secretary of the Federation of Family Physicians' Association of India. Ahmedabad: A recent study has raised alarm bells about the growing resistance of typhoid-causing bacteria to several antibiotics, in some cases up to 90%, potentially complicating treatment options for this common disease. This study by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) scientists, along with other organisations, is the latest among several studies in the past decade that flagged the rise of AMR typhoid in Gujarat and in India. Researchers studied isolated Salmonella Typhi or S Typhi, the bacteria responsible for typhoid fever, collected from Ahmedabad and Vadodara against 28 antibiotics used for treatment of typhoid and found several of them showing over 90% resistance. The group also pinpointed genes for third-generation antibiotics for some classes and suggested another class of antibiotics. Typhoid fever, caused by contaminated food or water or poor hygiene, is a common disease for Asia, Africa and Latin America and is marked by fever, fatigue, abdominal pain, rashes and in extreme cases, intestinal bleeding. Symptoms generally last for five to six days and doctors generally use antibiotics for treatment. In Ahmedabad city, monsoons often see 200-odd cases a month. The study, 'Comprehensive analysis of extensive drug-resistant Salmonella Typhi in Gujarat region, India: genomic findings and prospective alternative therapy' was recently published in the American Society for Microbiology journal Microbiology Spectrum. Its authors include SD Akshay, Heli Upadhyaya and 16 others from GBRC, MS University of Baroda, BJ Medical College, state govt's Commissionerate of Health, and Toprani Labs in Vadodara. 'Determining fluoroquinolones (FQs) and third-generation cephalosporin resistance underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategiesOur research revealed alarming resistance trends to key antibiotics, such as ceftriaxone, cotrimoxazole, amikacin, ampicillin, cefepime, cefixime, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, and gentamicin, limiting effective hospital treatment approaches,' the findings state. The researchers also highlighted the role of specific plasmids that carry resistance genes.'Our findings revealed that combination therapy with β-lactam antibiotics and β-lactam inhibitors (BLI) significantly improved the treatment efficacy against extensively drug resistant (XDR) S. Typhi, contributing to more favourable clinical results and reducing treatment failures,' read the findings, adding that this can effectively manage infections and avoid resistance development. Health experts in Ahmedabad say that the drug-resistant typhoid has been a reality for nearly a decade, in varied frequencies. Dr Urvesh Shah, professor and head of GCS Medical College's microbiology department, said that quinolone, the drug of choice a decade ago, is now getting resistant in more than 50% cases. "While third-generation cephalosporin are a drug of choice, we now get scattered cases of its resistance, which is alarming. While azithromycin retains its sensitivity, it should be given as a supplementary drug only," said Dr Shah, adding that the bottom line from such findings is steady rise of drug-resistant bacteria which should be addressed through proper use of drugs, their proper duration, and correct diagnosis. Dr RC Damani, internal medicine specialist at KD Hospital, said that compared to the scenario a decade ago, the medical fraternity is now forced to look at alternatives for the AMR typhoid. "Treatment protocols have changed today for antibiotic use. There is better screening also for determining typhoid cases," he said, adding that not all cases of typhoid are of AMR organisms. "The two popular methods to confirm typhoid are blood culture to determine bacteria and sonography to find signs such as swollen lymph nodes. While some start treatment for symptoms, the wrong use of antibiotics can add to the burden of AMR. Typhoid is a very common disease and we have seen a change in form of its duration from five days to seven days and treatment from oral medication to IV in serious cases," said Dr Pragnesh Vachcharajani, secretary of the Federation of Family Physicians' Association of India.
New York Post
23-04-2025
- Health
- New York Post
This old-timey disease is actually still around — and it's becoming antibiotic-resistant
No, it's not a fever dream. A deadly disease that toppled ancient civilizations is becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, posing a significant threat in certain parts of the world. 'Despite advances in vaccination and treatment strategies, typhoid fever continues to affect millions annually, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality, and there continue to be large-scale outbreaks,' an international team of researchers recently wrote in the journal Scientific Data. Advertisement 3 In this 1911 photo, an NYC health officer examines immigrant children during a typhoid fever scare. Bettmann Archive The World Health Organization estimates that about 9 million people become ill from the life-threatening bacterial infection and 110,000 people die from it annually. Typhoid fever is common in Southeast Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and Eastern Europe, where sanitation and water quality are poor. Advertisement Roughly 5,700 illnesses and 620 hospitalizations from typhoid occur in the US each year, with most cases linked to international travel, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The University of Wisconsin at Madison reported in February that a campus cafe worker had typhoid, warning students of potential exposure to Salmonella Typhi. The bacteria are spread through contaminated food or water or contact with infected people. 3 Salmonella Typhi, the bacteria that cause typhoid fever, are shown here. Universal Images Group via Getty Images Advertisement Once the bacteria enter the body, they typically cause a high fever, fatigue and stomach cramps within one to three weeks. Prompt antibiotic treatment is crucial to prevent severe complications, like intestinal hemorrhage, organ failure and sepsis, and death. The problem is that S. Typhi are developing resistance to antibiotics through genetic mutations, allowing them to survive even when exposed to drugs that would normally kill them. Advertisement Researchers sounded the alarm about the rise in drug-resistant (XDR) Typhi in 2022 after studying the strains contracted from 2014 to 2019 in Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. 'Typhoid was once treatable with a set of pills and now ends up with patients in hospital,' Jehan Zeb Khan, the clinical pharmacist at a hospital in northern Pakistan, told The Guardian last fall. 3 Mary Mallon, famously known as 'Typhoid Mary,' was the first person in the US to be identified as an asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever. Bettmann Archive Pakistan has been grappling with drug-resistant typhoid since 2016, with the overuse of antibiotics a significant contributor. Antibiotic-resistant infections kill at least 1.2 million people worldwide each year. Other factors include limited access to clean water and sanitation and little public awareness of the disease. Experts recommend expanding access to typhoid immunization and funding new antibiotic research. 'XDR-typhoid is the final warning sign. After this we will enter a stage where the superbug won't respond to any drugs at all,' Khan said. 'That means we will go back to when typhoid was a more deadly disease. And that really worries us.'
NDTV
22-04-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Typhoid Fever's Deadly Mutation: Ancient Killer Becomes Resistant To Last-Resort Antibiotics
Extensively drug-resistant (XDR) typhoid fever, caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, is rapidly spreading worldwide, particularly from South Asia. These strains are resistant to multiple antibiotics, including newer ones like fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins. According to a study, "Antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can cause typhoid fever and evade treatment are spreading across the globe, according to international research. Typhoid fever causes about 100,000 deaths a year globally and is usually treatable with antibiotics." However, the researchers say genetic analysis on blood samples collected in South Asia shows some of the bacteria strains causing the disease now are resistant to commonly used antibiotics. The researchers say these resistant strains have spread between countries nearly 200 times since 1990. "The speed at which highly resistant strains of S. Typhi have emerged and spread in recent years is a real cause for concern and highlights the need to urgently expand prevention measures, particularly in countries at greatest risk," said infectious disease specialist Jason Andrews from Stanford University at the time the results were published. Scientists have been warning about drug-resistant typhoid for years. In 2016, a super-resistant strain was found in Pakistan and quickly spread. By 2019, it was the most common type in the country. Now, new research shows that typhoid is getting even more resistant, making treatment harder. If typhoid isn't treated, it can be deadly for up to 20% of people who get it. Every year, there are 11 million cases of typhoid worldwide. Vaccines can help prevent future outbreaks, but many people don't have access to them. If we don't act now, we could face another major health crisis.
