Super-Bacteria Is Found in Rio's Olympic Waters

12/17/2014 - 08h40

The State Environmental Institute (Inea) confirmed on Tuesday (16) the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria - identified as KPC- on Flamengo and Botafogo beaches, located on South Rio.

Contamination can cause infections in the bloodstream and urinary system and also pneumonia. The KPC is being called a superbug due to its resistance to antibiotics.
2016 Olympic sailing events will be held within the perimeter analysed by Inea.

The institute recommends swimmers and sailors who train in the stretch near Flamengo beach do not enter the water if it is unfit for swimming.

Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz), a local health research institute, had already disclosed earlier in the week the presence of the superbug in the waters of the Carioca River, which crosses several neighbourhoods on South Rio and flows into Flamengo beach.

Fiocruz researchers tracked the KPC at three points: Boticário square, Cosme Velho, Flamengo Park (before Carioca River treatment plant) and Flamengo beach.

According to Ana Paula Carvalho Assef, a researcher at Fiocruz Hospital Infection Research Laboratory, there is no record of contamination among regulars so far. However, she said, the survey results were sent to the competent authorities.

According to Ana Paula, the diseases caused by these microorganisms are equal to those caused by common bacteria, but the treatments require more powerful antibiotics.

"Diving into a river with bacteria that produce KPC is like diving into any other polluted river. There is a risk of contracting diseases that are more severe than those caused by other micro-organisms", said the researcher.

According to Renata Picão, a microbiologist at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), the KPC has been detected in hospitals and was first known in international studies published in 2010.

She minimizes, however, the potential of the bacteria outside the hospital environment.

"It is not aggressive bacteria or, using a technical term, virulent bacteria. The KPC can cause infections in people with weakened immune systems. That is why the previous cases have occurred in hospitals."

"We cannot create scaremongering. But we must follow the bathing water directive published by Inea", said Fiocruz President Isaura Fraga.

In 2014, Flamengo Beach was considered unfit for swimming in 70% of the assessments made.

Translated by JULIANA CALDERARI

Read the article in the original language

	Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP
	2016 Olympic sailing events will be held within the perimeter analysed by Inea