Weekly Digest: Second colistin-resistance gene mcr-2 detected in Belgium; FDA issues new guidance on medically-important antimicrobials in food animals

Dengue in Delhi 2016. On the CDDEP blog, Research Analyst Anna Trett discusses the next outbreak of dengue, predicted to follow the current monsoon season in New Delhi. Predictions of above normal rainfall suggest a possible 25 percent increase in dengue cases in 2016 over the record number seen in 2015. Trett highlights initiatives recently implemented by the Delhi government to monitor the outbreak, including a dengue mapping project, awareness campaign, and the “India Fights Dengue” mobile application released in May. [CDDEP]

A second colistin-resistance conferring gene, mcr-2 was detected in Belgium in Escherichia coli samples isolated from calves and piglets. The MCR-1 and now MCR-2 resistance factors create resistance by “disabling” colistin, a last-resort antibiotic.  MCR-2 has a higher transfer frequency than does MCR-1, indicating that it may spread more rapidly. Researchers are calling for the immediate inclusion of MCR-2 screening in epidemiological surveillance. [CIDRAP, Eurosurveillance]

NIH-funded Zika study will involve U.S. Olympic team, including some athletes and U.S. Olympic Committee staff, to improve understanding of how the virus persists in the body and identify factors that influence the course of infection. Acting National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Director Catherine Y. Spong observed that “Monitoring the health and reproductive outcomes of members of the U.S. Olympic team offers a unique opportunity to answer important questions and help address an ongoing public health emergency.” [NIH]

Nearly 44,000 new cases of Chikungunya were reported by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as of July 1. The recent update indicates a sharp increase from PAHO’s June 24 report of just 950 new cases. More than 39,000 of the cases were in Brazil. [CIDRAP, PAHO]

FDA issues new “Guidance for Industry” on animal antibiotic marketing and labeling aimed at reducing the use of antimicrobials important in human medicine in feed or water given to food animals. The new guidance updates a 2013 directive asking animal drug sponsors to voluntarily remove indications for production, such as growth promotion and feed efficiency, from product labelling. The new guidance asks sponsors to voluntarily change the marketing status of these medically important antimicrobials from over-the-counter antibiotics to Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) or Prescription (Rx) antibiotics, effective January 1, 2017. [FDA]

Mobile game “Superbugs” aims to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance. In this game, released by developer Preloaded and commissioned by innovation charity Nesta, players administer antibiotics to wipe out rapidly mutating bacteria, more and more of which become resistant over time. According to developer Preloaded, “The timescale was balanced to subtly remind players of the speed at which this global problem is becoming a matter of urgency. Skilled players will survive till around 2050, the date described as a potential crisis point in the U.K. government’s recent AMR Review, and one likely to fall within most of our players’ lifetimes.” [Preloaded, WIRED]

Is it safe for general practices to prescribe fewer antibiotics? In a study funded by the U.K. National Institute for Health Research, researchers from King’s College London analyzed patient records from 610 U.K. general practices over 10 years, finding that lower rates of antibiotic prescribing resulted in slightly higher rates of pneumonia and peritonsillar abscess, conditions treatable with antibiotics once identified, but not higher rates of serious bacterial complications. [King’s College London, BMJ]

Infant protection against influenza from maternal immunization lasts for a limited time according to a study in JAMA Pediatrics. In the first study of its kind, researchers in South Africa found that protection drops off quickly after the infant’s first eight weeks. Protection is somewhat enhanced with vaccination earlier in pregnancy. [JAMA Pediatrics, Commentary]