Bacteria that are resistant to the last resort antibiotic colistin have been found in the UK. The bacteria, carrying a gene named mcr-1, were recently found in livestock and raw meat samples in China. However UK doctors had anticipated that it would take three years for the gene to arrive in the UK. Public Health England has identified bacteria carrying this resistant gene in three farms and in human E. coli and salmonella infections. Colistin belongs to a group of antibiotics called polymyxins. These antibiotics are often kept as a ‘reserves’ to treat infections caused by bacteria that are already resistant to other groups of antibiotics. There are concerns that the strains of bacteria that are resistant to colistin could pick up further resistance genes from other bacteria and make these infections untreatable by all available antibiotics. Prof Alan Johnson, Head of the Department for Antimicrobial Resistance at Public Health England, said: "Our assessment is that the public health risk posed by this gene is currently considered very low, but is subject to ongoing review as more information becomes available. "The organisms identified can be killed by cooking your food properly and all the bacteria we identified with this gene were responsive to other antibiotics, called carbapenems. "We will monitor this closely, and will provide any further public advice as needed."
Public Health England has identified bacteria carrying an antibiotic-resistant gene named mcr-1 in three UK farms, and in human E. coli and salmonella infections. UK doctors thought it may take three years for the gene to arrive in the UK after being found in Chinese livestock and raw meat samples. Although health officials have assessed the risk to public health as "very low", there are still concerns that the strains of bacteria resistant to the antibiotic may pick up further resistance from other bacteria, making infections untreatable by all available antibiotics. Thorough cooking of affected food is recommended in order to kill the identified organisms.