ABU DHABI // MRSA, the bacterium that resists antibiotics and is a leading cause of potentially fatal infections, is on the rise in hospitals.
A study at Tawam Hospital in Al Ain found the superbug was more than twice as prevalent in 2008 than in 2003. Health experts said the findings were likely to be repeated throughout the country, and urged tighter hospital infection control procedures, improved hygiene and a curb on unnecessary prescriptions for antibiotics.
“This is actually why we are trying to control the prescription of antibiotics,” said Dr Omniyat Al Hajeri, the director of public health and policy at the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi.
“Not everybody that has the common cold or the flu should be prescribed an antibiotic until it is clearly evident that they have a secondary bacterial infection.”
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a bacterium that is often present in our skin and nostrils. It can cause a range of conditions, from minor infections to life-threatening illnesses such as pneumonia and meningitis, but can be successfully treated with antibiotics.
Healthy individuals may also carry the antibiotic-resistant strain (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA) with no ill effects. It is when they become ill or have an open wound that the bacterium becomes dangerous.
Researchers from UAE University studied 26 strains of MRSA at Tawam Hospital in 2003, and again in 2008. In 2003, the 26 MRSA bacteria were found in 500 strains of S. aureus, an incidence of 5.2 per cent. In 2008, the 26 MRSA were found in 211 strains of S. aureus, an incidence of 12.3 per cent.
“In this country, our MRSA cannot be compared with countries like the UK. We are more to be compared with Scandinavian countries, where it is much lower,” said Dr Mansour Al Zarouni, a medical and molecular microbiologist and the head of laboratories at Sharjah Medical District.
“So that’s good news, but the bad news is it is increasing for various reasons.”
These reasons could include a patient travelling abroad for treatment, picking up the bacterium, then bringing it back with them to the UAE, said the doctor.
S. aureus is a relatively common bacteria but it is also responsible for a range of conditions: from impetigo and abscesses to more serious illnesses such as meningitis and staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS). It is most commonly spread by a combination of lack of hand hygiene and direct contact – from patient to patient or from a healthcare worker to a patient.
The bacteria’s growing resistance to antibiotics such as methicillin is a threat to both patients and hospitals, said Professor Tibor Pal, one of the authors of the study and a consultant clinical microbiologist and professor of microbiology at UAE University’s faculty of medicine and health sciences.
“If the organism is resistant to methicillin it means that the Staphylococcus aureus strain is resistant to the whole class of beta-lactams [antibiotics], so a very important class of drugs is out; we can’t use them,” he said.
Although the UAE University study focuses on only one hospital, Dr Jens Thomsen, of the community health and surveillance department at the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (Haad), said it was likely not to be an isolated incident.
“Antimicrobial resistance data is currently still being analysed on a pan-Emirates level and not by hospital. Preliminary results and findings are still subject to further analysis and expert discussion.
“There is, however, evidence that MRSA rates at several hospitals have increased significantly over the last years, compared to data published in the scientific literature.”
Community-Acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA), which differs from Hospital-Acquired MRSA (HA-MRSA) in that it is less resistant to antibiotics, is also on the increase in hospitals. At Tawam, over the same five-year period, CA-MRSA overtook HA-MRSA to comprise 73.1 per cent of the strains tested.
The rate at which MRSA grows resistant to antibiotics is likely to be affected by the overuse of these medicines, said Dr Al Hajeri.
“We get challenged all the time on why we are controlling the prescription of antibiotics. We get challenged by the community itself but we also get the challenge from general practitioners and most of the junior physicians that are in an outpatient setting,” she said.
The increase in MRSA found is not yet on par with that of other countries but it is a problem that must be looked at immediately, and with great importance, Dr Thomsen said.
“It is a concerning trend and they report in their study that this is a common finding in other hospitals as well. Over the whole UAE, it’s kind of a similar trend, so, of course, hospital infection control procedures have to be followed and strictly adhered to to combat this trend.”
ZAlhassani@thenational.ae
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Tickets
Tickets start at Dh100 for adults, while children can enter free on the opening day. For more information, visit www.mubadalawtc.com.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
THE BIO
Favourite place to go to in the UAE: The desert sand dunes, just after some rain
Who inspires you: Anybody with new and smart ideas, challenging questions, an open mind and a positive attitude
Where would you like to retire: Most probably in my home country, Hungary, but with frequent returns to the UAE
Favorite book: A book by Transilvanian author, Albert Wass, entitled ‘Sword and Reap’ (Kard es Kasza) - not really known internationally
Favourite subjects in school: Mathematics and science
The End of Loneliness
Benedict Wells
Translated from the German by Charlotte Collins
Sceptre
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Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
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Three ways to get a gratitude glow
By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
- In the evening, take some deep breaths, notice how your skin feels, and listen for what your skin is grateful for.
How Beautiful this world is!
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'Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness'
Director: Sam Raimi
Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams
Rating: 3/5
