Antibiotic resistant genes prevalent in groundwater

(Science Daily): With climate change comes increasing water shortages, and potentially longer periods of drought. As policymakers look urgently to wastewater recycling to stem the gap in water resources, the question is -- how best to reuse water and ensure public safety. New and emerging contaminants like antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) pose a potential hazard to public safety and water security. The spread of antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) through the water system could put public safety at-risk.

Researchers studied and compared samples from an advanced groundwater treatment facility in California and groundwater aquifers to detect differences in ARG concentrations. They found that the advanced groundwater treatment facility reduced nearly all targeted ARGs to below detection limits, but groundwater samples had a ubiquitous presence of ARGs in both control locations and locations recharged with water from the advanced water treatment facility. These findings were highlighted in a study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters.

Healthcare News Monitor

Regulator may go over the counter to tackle issue of drug overdose

ET Healthworld

NEW DELHI: You should soon be able to walk into your local grocery store and buy a customised dose pack of medicines for common ailments such as cough, cold or flu. India’s drug regulatory authority is mulling a proposal to introduce a properly sized “unit dose packaging” for nonprescription drugs, thereby eliminating the possibility of misuse or overdose of medicines. A subcommittee of experts formed to look into the issue of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in India has recommended “adequate labeling” so that consumers can “self-diagnose,” “self-elect,” “selfadminister” and “know when to stop using.” ET has reviewed the report. The experts have recommended such packaging for drugs that can be sold “without prescription, have a proven safety profile, therapeutic index and (are) used for common ailments.” While recommending two separate categories for OTC drugs — one for those that can be sold in retail outlets and the second under the supervision of registered pharmacists — the experts suggested “labelling requirements” for OTC drugs to supersede the existing provisions.

Med negligence: Panel raises claim by 5 times

ET Healthworld- Aamir Khan

New Delhi: Delhi State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has revised the compensation amount awarded to a woman, whose mother died due to medical negligence on the part of a city-based hospital five times. “It would be just and reasonable to award compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the complainant for the suffering, mental pain and agony caused as against the compensation of Rs 2 lakh awarded,” said member Anil Srivastava. The judgment sought to bring about a “qualitative change in the attitude of hospitals to provide service to human beings as human beings”. The ailing mother was brought to Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital on April 16, 2007, for treatment. The complainant daughter, Rajani Ranga, alleged that after much delay her mother was administered an injection but soon after she experienced a burning sensation and excruciating pain in her left hand. The doctors, however, paid no attention to the patient despite repeated requests, Ranga claimed. She also said that when the hospital could not treat her mother as a result of her worsening state, she was referred to RML or AIIMS. The patient was, however, taken to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital where she was treated but could not survive. The complaint alleged negligence on the hospital’s part. A district forum awarded Rs 2 lakh on the complaint holding the hospital negligent on the ground that there was a delay on the part of doctors concerned to attend to the patient.

Goa govt releases Rs 60 cr for super speciality block in GMCH

ET Healthworld- PTI

Panaji: The Goa government on Saturday released Rs 60 crore for the super speciality block being constructed at the Goa Medical College Hospital (GMCH) in Bambolim near here. The 500-bed super speciality facility, being built under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY), will be inaugurated by the end of this year. The state government on Saturday granted administrative and expenditure sanction of Rs 60 crore for the facility. "The administrative approval and expenditure sanction of the government is conveyed to the Dean of GMC for the release of Rs 60 crore in 12 instalments of Rs 5 crore each, towards setting up of the super speciality block in GMC under phase II of the PMSSY scheme," the order issued by state undersecretary Tru Manerkar said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the Rs 350 crore project in February, 2018.

UP: 212 teams to identify TB patients from October 14

ET Healthworld

KANPUR: As many as 212 health department teams will on a door-to-door visit in search of TB patients under the Intensive TB Patient Search Campaign from October 14. The teams would examine health of as many as 5.66 lakh people and try to identify TB patients among them, said district TB officer Dr G K Mishra. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fixed a target to eradicate TB from India by 2025. Thus, the TB department would launch a campaign from October 14 to 23,2019. Around 212 teams would knock the doors of their assigned localities and examine the health of 5.66 lakh residents. The teams would identify patients and would sent their sputum for lab examination to health centres. The centres would treat them as soon as they would be identified as TB patients, he added. Addressing reporters, Dr Mishra said the campaign was in the second leg in current financial year in which 10% residents out of 50 lakh population would be examined. For this, 10 most vulnerable localities had been identified and distributed in 10 planning units. Each team consisting of three persons, would visit 50 to 60 houses and collect sputum of possible patients. As many as 44 supervisors and 31 sector health officers would participate in this campaign. If lab examination revealed a patient, then medical supervisor would commence his treatment. He added that one TB patient could infect at least 10 to 15 persons. Therefore, his treatment should be started immediately after identification.