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7 November 2005
Scientists at Strathclyde University have come up with a model solution to the challenge of eradicating drug-resistant infections such as MRSA in hospitals without the associated dangers of increasing antibiotic resistance.
Mike Mattey, Janice Spencer, Fiona McColm and Luisa Verrechia of the Department of Bioscience at the University of Strathclyde have demonstrated that attempting to kill all unwanted bacteria using antibiotics is counterproductive, describing it as Like trying to push water uphill.
Their recommendation is that those responsible for controlling antibiotic resistant strains of infection concentrate only on the small percentage of bacteria which have already mutated to become drug-resistant.
Mike Mattey said, By identifying already resistant strains and using existing bacteriophage technology to eradicate only those, we effectively stop antibiotic-resistant strains of infection in their tracks. Our model demonstrates that selective control (eg tackling MRSA in hospitals using bacteriophages), can achieve the desired outcomes without significantly altering current practices in prescribing or cleaning within hospitals.
General cleaning remains crucial in tackling infection but selective targeting of particularly problematic bacteria such as MRSA is needed as well. Our model demonstrates that this could be achieved cost-effectively by incorporating modified bacteriophages into day to day cleaning materials.
This selective control has the potential to prevent resistant strains from becoming dominant and indeed to practice genocide on the most troublesome bacteria. In effect, what we are recommending is to stop using an antibiotic sledgehammer to crack a nut.
By concentrating on the select, troublesome strains of bacteria only, we achieve the same benefits but without the unwanted side-effect of encouraging drug-resistancy through over-treatment.
Mike Mattey adds, Bacteriophages have long been known to have precisely the properties that are required for the elimination of resistant bacteria but have a major problem in that they are only effective in water. Immobilisation of bacteriophages however offers a solution. Immobilised bacteriophages have an effective lifetime under normal room conditions greater than resistant bacteria.
This allows bacteriophages to kill their target bacteria if the bacteria are growing or to remain quiescent if the bacteria are not growing. If bacteria in the presence of immobilised bacteriophages start growing then they will be killed. This altered, selective pressure has the potential to prevent resistant strains from becoming dominant.
For further information contact Bryan Garvie or Marjorie Calder of The BIG Partnership on or Jan Clark, Marketing Communications Officer, Nexxus, The West of Scotland BioScience Network on .
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