Latest news with #antibioticResistance
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Poo transplant: 'Poo pills' and the fight against superbugs
You might think of it as just some stinky brown waste but scientists are finding lots of useful ways to use human latest is in the fight against superbug infections - infections that don't respond to antibiotics - using pills filled with freeze-dried faeces. The idea is that stool samples packed with good bacteria from healthy people are put into a pill, taken by someone with a superbug infection and the healthy bacteria will help to flush out the to the UK Health Security Agency, antibiotic resistant infections are on the rise but Dr Blair Merrick who tested the pills says: "We could potentially, in the future, replace antibiotics with microbiome [therapies] - that's the big picture, so there's a lot of potential." Why are superbugs a problem? Humans have been using antibiotics to treat infections for nearly 100 years. But as taking them became more common in recent years, sometimes in situations where they weren't needed, some strains of bacteria have developed a resistance to types of antibiotics. It means they can be difficult to treat and life-threatening. According to the NHS, the biggest worry is that new strains of bacteria will eventually also become resistant to antibiotics. How does a poo transplant work? Poo samples from healthy donors are tested to make sure there are no harmful bugs and undigested food is removed before it's freeze dried into a powder. That's then put into a pill which dissolves in the bowel to released the poopy powder. The study, which was carried out at Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals in London, suggests the superbugs are flushed out of the bowel and replaced by healthy gut bacteria. Poo transplants like this aren't a new thing. They've already been successfully used in treating Clostridium difficile (C. diff) which is a type of bacteria that can cause diarrhoea, stomach ache, loss of appetite and it can also make a person feel are also looking at poo transplants as a treatment for liver disease.
Telegraph
10-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Cases of imported typhoid fever reach record high in Britain
Imported cases of typhoid fever have reached a record annual high in Britain, driven in part by the spread of a drug-resistant variant of the disease in Pakistan. At least 702 imported cases of typhoid and paratyphoid fever, bacterial infections which can kill one in five if left untreated, were detected in 2024, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency. The UKHSA did not say how many people had died as a result of the diseases, which typically causes fever, headache, fatigue and muscle ache, but can also lead to severe complications including internal bleeding in the digestive system. The figures represent an eight per cent increase on the year before and the highest number recorded annually in modern times. The vast majority of cases found in the UK are acquired in South Asia, in countries with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water – including India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, which have the highest rates of typhoid globally. The disease is caused by Salmonella bacteria which spreads through contaminated food or water. Paratyphoid fever, a close cousin of typhoid, is caused by a different strain of Salmonella and can be harder to treat. Cases of typhoid have increased worldwide over the last decade, due in large part to the rise of antibiotic-resistance – where bacteria develops the ability to resist the medicine used to treat them because of repeated exposure. In Pakistan, a mutant strain of typhoid known as the XDR variant emerged and began to spread in 2016. It is resistant to almost all forms of treatment. Of the roughly nine million people who contract typhoid each year globally, the vast majority are now infected by a drug-resistant strain. While there is a typhoid vaccine, those at high risk of contracting the disease typically require a booster every three years to fight off the disease – something that can be difficult to get in low-income countries with weaker healthcare systems. While most cases are now contacted abroad, typhoid was once a major public health issue in Britain, killing roughly 16,000 people every year in the 1800s. The disease affected not only those in overcrowded slums and workhouses, but also in palaces – Prince Albert died of typhoid fever at the age of 42. It is also not the first time Typhoid has crossed international borders – one of the most famous victims of the disease was an Irish cook, Mary Mallon, who infected hundreds of people on her emigration to America. As an asymptomatic carrier of the disease, she unknowingly infected – and killed – swathes of people she worked alongside in domestic households on America's East Coast, as well as the wealthy families she cooked for. The cook was eventually forced into quarantine by authorities, where she remained for 26 years until her death. The term 'typhoid Mary' is now synonymous with the spread of the disease. To prevent infection when travelling abroad, the UKHSA recommends washing your hands before eating and taking care to avoid unsafe water supplies. They also recommend vaccination, which is available at all GP surgeries.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
New ‘poo pills' could flush out killer bugs that kill one million Brits each year
SUPERBUGS, or drug-resistant infections, are projected to cause more than 39 million deaths between now and 2050. This means that, on average, over three people are expected to die from antibiotic -resistant infections every minute. But now UK doctor are attempting to clear the number of dangerous superbug infections by using pills containing freeze-dried faeces. The "poo pills" contain stool samples from health donors, packed with good bacteria. And the idea comes from previous data that suggests superbugs can be flushed out of the bowel and replaced with a mix of healthy gut bacteria. Dr Blair Merrick, who has been testing the pills at St Guys and Thomas' hospitals, said the focus is on the bowels which are "the biggest reservoir of antibiotic resistance in humans". The bowel is considered a significant reservoir for these resistant bacteria, and from there they can cause trouble in places such as the urinary tract or bloodstream. Dr Merrick added: "So there's a lot in 'can you get rid of them from the gut?" Currently, people with recurrent illness caused by hard-to-treat bacterium Clostridium difficile can be offered faecal transplants. Scientists noticed they also had the potential to get rid of superbugs. In a new study, published in the Journal of Infection, researchers focused on 41 patients who had an infection caused by drug-resistant bacteria in the past six months. They were given pills made from faeces which people had donated to a stool bank. What is Klebsiella pneumonia? Each stool sample was tested to ensure it didn't contain and harmful bugs. Undigested food was removed, and then it was freeze dried into a powder. The powder, contained inside a pill, can then pass through the stomach unharmed and reach the intestines, where it then dissolves. Twenty of the participants were given three sets of capsules on three consecutive days, while the rest received placebo pills. For those who took the capsules , the donor bacteria was detectable in their gut flora a month later. Dr Merrick told the BBC: "It's very exciting. There's a real shift from 20 years ago, where all bacteria and viruses were assumed to do you harm; to now where we realise they are completely necessary to our overall health." To help avoid getting superbugs, the NHS recommends practising good hygiene - wash your hands frequently with soap and water, especially before eating, after using the toilet, and after coughing or sneezing. Use antibiotics responsibly - avoid taking antibiotics for viral infections like colds or the flu, as they won't work. Even if you feel better, finish all of your prescribed medication to ensure the infection is fully treated. And don't share antibiotics - sharing can be harmful and can lead to resistance. Also, take preventative measures when travelling - choose food from reliable sources, and ensure food is properly cooked and handled, avoid drinking water that may be contaminated, and make sure you are up-to-date on all recommended vaccinations before travelling.
The Independent
03-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Expert warns of spread of super-gonorrhoea resistant to antibiotics
Health officials have issued a warning over a "concerning jump" in cases of gonorrhoea that are resistant to strong antibiotics. New data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reveals that the number of cases of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) gonorrhoea, which are resistant to the antibiotic ceftriaxone, has already surpassed the total number of cases recorded in the previous year. While overall gonorrhoea cases in England saw a 16 per cent decrease in 2024, with 71,802 diagnoses compared to 85,370 in 2023, the rise in antibiotic-resistant strains remains a significant concern for health authorities. However, ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea cases are being detected more frequently – with 14 in the first five months of 2025 compared with 13 in the whole of the previous year. Six of the 14 cases this year have been 'extensively drug-resistant', which means that they were resistant to ceftriaxone and then to second-line treatment options, according to the UKHSA. Ceftriaxone is a strong antibiotic and the main treatment for gonorrhoea. Experts are therefore concerned when infections fail to respond to it. Most of these drug-resistant cases are linked with travel to or from the Asia-Pacific region, where the prevalence of ceftriaxone resistance is high. Elsewhere, among people in England, early-stage syphilis diagnoses rose 1.7%, from 9,375 in 2023 to 9,535 in 2024. The overall figure for syphilis, including late-stage syphilis or complications from the infection, increased 5% from 12,456 in 2023 to 13,030 in 2024. Chlamydia fell 13%, from 194,143 diagnoses in 2023 to 168,889 in 2024, while people diagnosed for the first time with genital warts also dropped. Among women aged 15 to 24 who are recommended to be screened through the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP), there was a 10.7% decrease in the number of chlamydia tests carried out, from 673,102 to 601,295. Dr Hamish Mohammed, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: 'Levels of STIs in this country remain a big threat to sexual wellbeing. 'These infections can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners – particularly if they are antibiotic resistant. 'If you've had condomless sex with new or casual partners – either in the UK or overseas – get tested for STIs and HIV at least yearly, even if you don't have symptoms. Regular testing protects both you and those you're having sex with. 'From August, eligible people will also be offered vaccination to reduce the risk of gonorrhoea and we expect to see the immunisation programme have an impact on diagnoses of this infection in coming years – please take up the vaccine if you are offered it.' Professor Matt Phillips, president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV, said: 'Whilst it is encouraging to see a fall in the total number of STI diagnoses this year, we nonetheless continue to see historically high rates of sexual infection, with particularly worrying continued increases in infections such as syphilis, which are at their highest-ever levels, and the continued spread of antibiotic-resistant disease. 'It is vital that clear steps are put in place to reverse these trends. He added: 'Sexual health services remain under immense pressure and these new tools risk being deployed into overstretched systems unable to support them effectively. 'We find ourselves at a critical point for securing the long-term viability of sexual health services in this country. 'Only a joined-up, ambitious national strategy can ensure that we are prepared not just for today's sexual health challenges, but for those we know are coming.'
The Independent
03-06-2025
- General
- The Independent
Experts warn of ‘concerning jump' in antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea
There has been a 'concerning jump' in cases of gonorrhoea resistant to strong antibiotics, health officials have warned. New figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show there have been more cases of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) gonorrhoea that are resistant to the antibiotic ceftriaxone so far in 2025 than the whole of last year. Overall, there was a 16% drop in gonorrhoea cases in 2024 in England, with 71,802 diagnoses, compared with 85,370 in 2023. However, ceftriaxone-resistant gonorrhoea cases are being detected more frequently – with 14 in the first five months of 2025 compared with 13 in the whole of the previous year. Six of the 14 cases this year have been 'extensively drug-resistant', which means that they were resistant to ceftriaxone and then to second-line treatment options, according to the UKHSA. Ceftriaxone is a strong antibiotic and the main treatment for gonorrhoea. Experts are therefore concerned when infections fail to respond to it. Most of these drug-resistant cases are linked with travel to or from the Asia-Pacific region, where the prevalence of ceftriaxone resistance is high. Elsewhere, among people in England, early-stage syphilis diagnoses rose 1.7%, from 9,375 in 2023 to 9,535 in 2024. The overall figure for syphilis, including late-stage syphilis or complications from the infection, increased 5% from 12,456 in 2023 to 13,030 in 2024. Chlamydia fell 13%, from 194,143 diagnoses in 2023 to 168,889 in 2024, while people diagnosed for the first time with genital warts also dropped. Among women aged 15 to 24 who are recommended to be screened through the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP), there was a 10.7% decrease in the number of chlamydia tests carried out, from 673,102 to 601,295. Dr Hamish Mohammed, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: 'Levels of STIs in this country remain a big threat to sexual wellbeing. 'These infections can have a major impact on your health and that of any sexual partners – particularly if they are antibiotic resistant. 'If you've had condomless sex with new or casual partners – either in the UK or overseas – get tested for STIs and HIV at least yearly, even if you don't have symptoms. Regular testing protects both you and those you're having sex with. 'From August, eligible people will also be offered vaccination to reduce the risk of gonorrhoea and we expect to see the immunisation programme have an impact on diagnoses of this infection in coming years – please take up the vaccine if you are offered it.'
