Staphylococcus epidermidis can enter the body through skin wounds
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A patch that zaps the skin with electrical pulses can be used before and after surgery to prevent bacteria on the skin from developing sepsis and reduce dependence on antibiotics.
Staphylococcus epidermidis Bacteria normally live harmlessly on human skin, but if they enter the body through cracks in the skin after surgery or due to conditions such as psoriasis, they can can cause bloodstream infectionswhich can lead to dangerously low blood pressure.
Antibiotics can prevent and treat these infections, but this has led to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Staphylococcus epidermidis Appearing now. Looking for another approach, Boji Tian Researchers at the University of Chicago considered the possibility of electrical pulses. Previously shown to kill bacteria.
The researchers created square plastic patches that were 1 millimeter wide. Each patch contains gold electrodes that, when wired, generate electrical pulses that humans can't feel. They then spread strains such as: Staphylococcus epidermidis Apply the patch to five samples of sterilized pig skin and place the patch on top of each piece.
After zapping the skin for 10 seconds every 10 minutes for 18 hours, the research team found: Staphylococcus epidermidis In these samples, levels were reduced by a factor of 10 compared to other samples with patches, but no electrical pulses were delivered.
This intervention also disrupts the ability of bacteria to bind together and form layers called biofilms, which is thought to lead to more severe infections.
The results suggest that patches that can be cut to any size could theoretically reduce the risk of severe drug resistance. Staphylococcus epidermidis Tian says it's an infectious disease.
Widespread use of antibiotics is causing an increase in drug resistance, and this alternative approach could help slow the crisis. Athlete Nehiro At the University of Warwick, UK. But it's unclear how the patch affects other bacteria on the skin that can cause sepsis, he says.
Tian's team plans to investigate this in further studies and test the approach in live animals, preferably within about a year.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
