LOS ANGELES, April 10 (Xinhua) -- An antibiotic-resistant bacteria was discovered for the first time in Los Angeles County, U.S. state of California, and experts are voicing concerns that the bacteria poses great health risks, especially for those who are immunocompromised.
The super bacteria was found by the team of Adam Smith, a professor in the Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Southern California (USC), at the two largest wastewater facilities in Los Angeles County.
The team observed resistance in two opportunistic pathogens and discovered two novel small plasmids harboring colistin resistance genes. These small plasmids are considered mobile genetic elements, meaning transmissible between different types of bacteria, according to a USC release.
While this antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been found elsewhere in the world, this marks the first time it has been found in Los Angeles, said the team.
While the antibiotic resistant bacteria was found in two sites, one on the coast by Los Angeles International Airport and the other in the Carson area, Smith said these two water treatment sites are representative of Los Angeles County and the antibiotic resistance genes are likely circulating throughout the county.
