Emergence of "Superbug" XXX Is Truth Driven?? or Sere "Scare" Politics ???

When India Inc is  gearing up for a big leap and making its move towards making healthcare affordable and accessible, there is brewing the culpable attempt to hit medical tourism in the subcontinent.

I woke up reading the news of Superbug Newdelhi hits London.. The researchers have blamed medical tourism in the Indian subcontinent has given rise to this highly resistant bacterial enzyme which NDM1* also has the ability to copy itself to other bacteria and transferred. The study warns that the ease of transfer can lead to faster spread and can bring an end to the use of antibiotics. Is this so grave ?? Sure ? The researchers from Cardiff University sound as if this will lead to an epidemic which no one is ready for ?if this is a genuine attempt then Kudos and this needs serious introspection.. But some questions come to mind.. first of all naming the bacteria after New Delhi, sounds like a well designed plan to identify a prominent place and tame the popularity. Secondly is this study peer reviewed ? How is the authenticity vetted ? The other day I was reading a book written by David Healy , where he has explained the use of scare politics by several organisations and pharma companies to use as an adjunct mode of marketing drugs, or create other effects in the business spheres. If is such an attempt is being made then quite unfortunate. Emergence of Drug resistant bacteria is not uncommon and all over the world there is a scope of such developments, so why only India and brand the enzyme as New Delhi Superbug ?

NDA-1 New delhi metallo-beta-lactamase 

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Permalink Reply by Mohit Garg on August 12, 2010 at 6:00am
Whether or not the superbug exists, to name the Superbug with 'New Delhi' in it is clear misrepresentation of its origin. The study included medical facilities in Haryana and Tamil Nadu.
Permalink Reply by Andrew Lloyd on August 12, 2010 at 1:44pm
But the naming of disease strains is sort of a black art anyway. Marburg was first identified in Marburg, Germany, but probably didn't originate there. Likewise, Ebola Reston was identified in imported macquaes which (if memory serves) had never removed from isolation, but is named after the location of the Reston, Virginia, primate isolation house where the primates first became symptomatic. I can't think epidemiologists do anything but try to give it a name related to its origin or spread. It's a sexy hook for the media to blame it on medical travel rather than business travel or immigration or whatever else. But I'm afraid it's just bad luck for the place if it gets identified as 'New Delhi Superbug' or 'Spanish Influenza' or 'German Measles.'

I don't think it's much of a threat to the industry as a PR matter -- there is plenty of talk about antibiotic resistent strains as it is. MT brings nothing new to that. As to the bug itself, these are important public health issues that the industry ought to view dispassionately and address squarely if it's really more unique to medical patients rather than travelers in general. It might be useful to find out if there is an epidemiologist associated with the medical travel industry who might be in a position to opine on this stuff in the future.
Permalink Reply by Ashok Panda on August 18, 2010 at 6:20am
Hi Andrew.

The industry is quite reactive to this news and in every sphere there is a reaction. A patient travelling to an alien country to get medical treatment is already apprehensive and these kinds of news are available over net for easily as these are news archives, when someone is searching for medical tourism on internet.However, if there is no reaction or counter action, then a healthcare seeker might take this piece of news as legitimate.
Permalink Reply by Roshan Shah on August 12, 2010 at 1:54pm
Britishers always think Indians to be slaves. They have to come off it. Lot of google trend searches on AIDS, Drug Addicts, etc will lead to Developed Nations.

I think they are freaking out on seeing the tremendous growth in Medical Tourism. And since they can't do anything about it, they are creating fear in minds of people - as-if they think that people are dumb.

Today the whole world knows that India is emerging a leader in Medical Tourism.
Permalink Reply by Puneet Yamparala on August 27, 2010 at 4:08pm
Actually what you say sounds very petty. The issue here is not of what britishers (who calls them that now??) think. This has nothing to do with medical tourism (may be not fully atleast) this was more about some peer reviewed journal trying to score some quick marketing points by trying to sensationalize a not so important news.
Permalink Reply by Faisal A. Sami, M.D. on August 27, 2010 at 4:16am
I don't think the name will stick. Soon it will be found in other places around the world and they will have to come up with a scientific name. There are plenty of superbugs already in the US and other developed countries, e.g. MRSA.
Permalink Reply by Puneet Yamparala on August 27, 2010 at 4:05pm
A lot of these issues have been raised by pres all over India and over the world. It is not just failure of journalism, it is also the failure of a reputed research journals in maintaining some level of ethics and not just sensationalizing an issue.
some excellent review on this can be found here: http://medtrawell.com/Medical%20Dental%20Tourism%20Discussion/the-t...

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