Farmer's Weekly reports that V-Tech, which also conducts surveillance of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), has identified and confirmed the first ever known case in South Africa of resistance to colistin.

The report states that bacterial resistance to colistin is caused by the MCR-1 gene. V-Tech CEO Johan Oosthyse said in a statement it is especially worrying that this gene is already being transmitted between bacteria such as E.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The AMR surveillance programme is utilised by numerous poultry producers, piggeries and feedlots across South Africa. V-Tech says it intends amending the programme to include routine surveillance for the MCR-1 gene so that alternate antimicrobials can be used if the gene is present.

Oosthyse says they also intend going to Government with new protocols for veterinarians prescribing Colistin in future so as to limit risks of spreading the gene, as well as limiting risks to humans.

Source: Farmer's Weekly