Infection control experts are contemplating a worrisome future in the wake of recent outbreaks of a dangerous new form of superbug at two GTA hospitals – William Osler in Brampton and Sunnybrook.

Both involved bacteria containing the so-called “NDM1 enzyme” which makes bacteria resistant to almost all antibiotics.

They’re the first reports of hospital outbreaks with NDM1-positive bacteria in Canada.
 
The strain originally came from India, but has been transmitted widely by medical tourism.

Sunnybrook’s head of microbiology, Dr. Andrew Simor, said while people have been warning about antibiotic resistance for years, this type of superbug raises the threat to a whole new level.