Aged care superbugs studied
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Superbugs are spreading in aged care homes due to overuse of antibiotics.
A new study from Flinders University and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) has highlighted the urgent need for better antibiotic management in residential aged care facilities.
The research links the widespread use of antibiotics to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria - commonly known as ‘superbugs’ - in elderly residents.
Sophie Miller, the study's lead author and PhD student, says that these bacteria, which thrive in the gut, may increase resistance to other life-saving antibiotics.
“Commonly used tablet antibiotics in the elderly increase many types of resistance bacteria carried in the gut,” said Miller.
“These so-called ‘superbugs’ can increase resistance to other important life-saving antibiotic drugs.”
Researchers studied stool samples from 164 residents across five long-term aged care facilities in South Australia, examining the genetic markers associated with antibiotic resistance.
It found that even antibiotics that are not typically known for significantly affecting gut bacteria could lead to an increase in resistance genes.
Worryingly, nearly all participants carried these resistant genes without showing any symptoms, raising concerns about the spread of these bacteria between residents.
Miller pointed to the high rates of antibiotic prescriptions in aged care as a major contributor to the rise of these superbugs.
“High rates of antibiotic prescriptions in aged care settings are likely to be contributing to the proliferation of these bugs, which can lead to longer hospital stays, higher medical costs and increased mortality,” she said.
This is likely to compromise the effectiveness of treatments and raise the risk of treatment failures in elderly populations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has long identified antibiotic resistance as a critical global threat, as more infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis become harder to treat.
Senior author Professor Geraint Rogers, Director of SAHMRI’s Microbiome and Host Health Program, said a broad approach to antibiotic management is needed.
“As the population ages and life expectancy extends, the implications of our findings emphasise the importance of a holistic approach to antibiotic management in long-term aged care settings,” he said.
The full study is accessible here.