5 bacteria led to 6.8 lakh deaths: Lancet study

Study Says E Coli Deadliest, Reveals Challenge Due To Pathogens

- DurgeshNandan.Jha @timesgroup.com

Five bacteria E.coli, S.pneumoniae, K.pneumoniae, S.aureus and A.baumanii have been found to be the deadliest pathogens in India, claiming over 6.78 lakh lives in 2019, according to Lancet. E Coli, which is associated with diarrhoea, UTI and pneumonia etc, claimed 16.1 lakh lives. The report is based on deaths attributable to bacterial infections among 33 species, including the five mentioned above. 

New Delhi: Five bacteria E.coli, S.pneumoniae, K.pneumoniae, S.aureus and A.baumanii have been found to be the deadliest pathogens in India. According to a report published in The Lancet, infections caused by the five bacteria together claimed more than 6.8 lakh lives in India in 2019.

While E Coli, which is associated with diarrhoea, urinary tract infections and pneumonia among others, claimed maximum 1.6 lakh lives in the country, moniae, S.pneuK.pneumoniae, S.aureus and A.baumannii claimed 1.4 lakh, 1.3 lakh, 1.2 lakh and 1.1 lakh deaths respectively.