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The editor of The Lancet, Richard Horton, has said naming a superbug after New Delhi was an error, and has apologised.
Some Europeans returning from South Asia had been found infected with a bacteria carrying a drug-resistant gene last year, which had been named New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase, or NDM-1, as the first patient had flown from Delhi to Sweden with the infection.
While acknowledging this was a mistake, Horton said, the science behind the NDM-1 discovery was very strong and correct.
A study published by The Lancet in August 2010 had said NDM-1 made bacteria resistant to almost all antibiotics, including the most powerful carbapenems. After the Indian government objected, the studys lead researcher, Timothy R Walsh, told The Indian Express that it was not new to name bacteria after a city.
Horton, who launched the The Lancet: India Series, said the journals team did not think through the implications of the...
bug being named NDM. Asked if there were plans to change the name, Horton said: I hope that the name can be changed, but it is up to the microbiologists. There has been a lot of discussion, but nothing more than that.
Horton said The Lancet had learnt a lesson from the episode, and for every new discovery, I believe, one should definitely think properly about the name.
Naming superbug after Delhi an error, Lancet says sorry
Stop idolising Western journals: Experts: Headlines Today Top Stories : India Today
Some Europeans returning from South Asia had been found infected with a bacteria carrying a drug-resistant gene last year, which had been named New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase, or NDM-1, as the first patient had flown from Delhi to Sweden with the infection.
While acknowledging this was a mistake, Horton said, the science behind the NDM-1 discovery was very strong and correct.
A study published by The Lancet in August 2010 had said NDM-1 made bacteria resistant to almost all antibiotics, including the most powerful carbapenems. After the Indian government objected, the studys lead researcher, Timothy R Walsh, told The Indian Express that it was not new to name bacteria after a city.
Horton, who launched the The Lancet: India Series, said the journals team did not think through the implications of the...
bug being named NDM. Asked if there were plans to change the name, Horton said: I hope that the name can be changed, but it is up to the microbiologists. There has been a lot of discussion, but nothing more than that.
Horton said The Lancet had learnt a lesson from the episode, and for every new discovery, I believe, one should definitely think properly about the name.
Naming superbug after Delhi an error, Lancet says sorry
Stop idolising Western journals: Experts: Headlines Today Top Stories : India Today
