E.coli bacteria in Vietnam are resistant to antibiotics
Antibiotic resistance rates in E. coli bacteria that cause intestinal diseases and diarrhea have increased by 40% in the past 10 years.
According to Associate Professor Doan Mai Phuong, former Head of the Department of Microbiology, Bach Mai Hospital, E. coli bacteria are now resistant to Carbapenem antibiotics - the antibiotic considered the last weapon for treatment. The rate of antibiotic resistance of this bacteria is increasing by 30-40%, compared to 2009. E. coli is a common bacteria, mainly transmitted through food (food poisoning).
"If not controlled, antibiotic resistance will spread from one bacteria to another, and resistance to Carbapenem antibiotics will increase rapidly," said Ms. Phuong.
E. coli is one of many types of gram-negative intestinal bacteria resistant to antibiotics in Vietnam. It is also one of the groups of super bacteria resistant to all types of antibiotics at an alarming rate in the world today.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed Vietnam among the countries with the highest antibiotic resistance rates in the world. While many developed countries use first-generation antibiotics effectively, Vietnam has had to resort to third and fourth-generation antibiotics.
Antibiotic resistance stems from people's habit of buying drugs without prescription. Even doctors use antibiotics inappropriately. Since 2009, the number of antibiotics sold in the community in Vietnam has doubled. Up to 88% of antibiotics in urban areas are sold without prescription, in rural areas this rate is up to 91%.
According to Associate Professor Phuong, to know if bacteria are resistant to antibiotics or if the antibiotic dose is incorrect, it is necessary to do an antibiotic sensitivity test in the laboratory. Bach Mai Hospital applies the AMR Scorecard to test the culture and antibiotic sensitivity of blood, urine and stool specimens. Dr. Pham Hong Nhung, Deputy Head of the Department of Microbiology, Bach Mai Hospital, said that the AMR checklist is a useful and simple tool to better assess the quality of antibiotic resistance testing in the laboratory.In addition to Bach Mai Hospital, the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases also applies the antibiotic resistance laboratory quality checklist. |