Found in Antarctic bacteria immune to antibiotics

The bacteria are unicellular microorganisms that hold the title of being the most abundant life forms on the planet, found in all terrestrial and aquatic habitats (in all conditions), still living more resistant to extreme conditions ( including the space ) and, in turn, essential for many biochemical processes. Although, over the years, bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics, bacterial infections are often counter doses of antibiotics (like penicillin ), however, a team of researchers from the University of Uppsala (Sweden) has met with some bacteria in the waters of Antarctica resistant to several antibiotics including penicillin.

These immune bacteria have been discovered by Björn Olsen and his team to take samples of ocean water at distances between 10 and 300 meters of Antarctic research stations of Chile (Base General Bernardo O'Higgins, Captain Arturo Prat Naval Base and Base Professor Julio Escudero) and find, in 25% of samples taken, a variety of the bacterium Escherichia coli (or E. coli ) carries genes that produced the ESBL enzyme capable of destroying penicillin, cephalosporin and related antibiotics.

Bacteria resistant to standard treatment is a fascinating finding, but at the same time, very worrying as it is a sign that bacteria are increasingly resistant to antibiotics and, in case of infection, could trigger a health crisis (as the events in Germany this summer with a party of cucumbers contaminated with E. coli ).

If we found these bacteria in Antarctica is a sign of how serious this problem is

And how do these bacteria have developed? According to the work of researchers from Uppsala University, the largest concentration of these bacteria immune to antibiotics occurred in areas close to the sanitation pipes since, although other research stations incinerated organic waste or treated prior to evacuate the sea, Chile stations did not carry out any treatment so that the origin of these resistant bacteria comes from the human presence in the area.

A curious form of notice that, even for scientific purposes, human activity can alter an ecosystem as protected as Antarctica.