- In an ominous sign for antibiotic effectiveness, the mcr-1 gene, which is responsible for resistance against antibiotic Colistin, has been identified in India.
- The gene was found in a sample of E. coli bacteria by scientists in a hospital in Haryana.
- Mcr-1 has already been detected in China, USA and Brazil.
- The gene is believed to build resistance in bacteria against Colistin—a last resort antibiotic to treat infectious diseases in humans.
- It is often used to treat human diseases when no other antibiotic works. Colistin belongs to a group of antibiotics called polymixins which are termed “critically important” by the World Health Organization.
- Despite its critically important status, colistin is used extensively in food animal production for purposes other than treatment of diseases.
- However in India, colistin is used rampantly for non-therapeutic purposes such as growth promotion and disease prevention in poultry farming and aquaculture.
- However, no mandatory action has been taken by the Indian government so far.
