Context:
Scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT-M) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have carried out a collaborative study of the behaviour of multi-drug resistant pathogens aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
About Enterobacter Bugandensis:
- Introduction: Enterobacter bugandensis is a relatively new species within the Enterobacter genus. It was first identified in 2013, isolated from bloodstream infection cases in Uganda.
Key Characteristics:
- It is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium.
- Similar to other Enterobacter species, E. bugandensis is typically found in diverse environments, including soil, water, and the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and humans.
- This bacterium can cause various infections, mainly in immunocompromised individuals. The infections include bloodstream, respiratory, urinary tract, and wound infections.
- E. bugandensis has shown resistance to multiple antibiotics, complicating treatment efforts.
- The resistance mechanisms may involve beta-lactamase production, efflux pumps, and mutations that reduce drug uptake.
What is the Multi-Drug-Resistant Pathogen?
- Definition: A multi-drug-resistant (MDR) pathogen is a microorganism that has developed resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents, typically three or more categories of antimicrobials.
- Scope: This resistance is observed in various microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
- The most concerning forms of MDR for public health are MDR bacteria that resist multiple antibiotics.
-Source: Down To Earth
