Scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough that may lead to new treatments for a serious infection impacting as many as 40% of hospital patients on mechanical ventilators.
Researchers at The University of Warwick have made a significant breakthrough that may help identify new therapies for a severe infection that can afflict up to 40% of hospital patients who require mechanical ventilation.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a frequent infection among patients on ventilators, especially those with pre-existing respiratory issues, including Covid-19.
The bacteria responsible for VAP adhere to breathing tubes, which often show resistance to antibiotics. Around 40% of patients receiving ventilation in intensive care units develop VAP, and approximately 10% of these affected patients may die from it.
A recent study, published in Microbiology, aimed to recreate hospital-like environments to better understand this infection.
The researchers utilized similar tubes that are inserted into patients’ airways and developed a specialized mucus to mimic the inner workings of the human body. The bacteria and fungi then formed a slimy coat known as a biofilm on these tubes.
Dr. Dean Walsh, a Research Fellow at the University of Warwick, stated, “Our investigation revealed that the biofilms in our model were distinct and more intricate than those typically created in conventional lab settings, making them more lifelike.”
“The biofilms produced in this innovative model were quite resilient, making them challenging to eliminate, even with powerful antibiotics, just like the situation in actual patients.”
“Crucially, when we combined antibiotics with enzymes that break down the biofilm’s protective slime layer, we were able to eliminate them more effectively than with antibiotics alone. By utilizing the enzymes, we could reduce the amount of antibiotics needed to eradicate the biofilms by half. This indicates that our model can be used to discover new treatments for VAP that specifically target the slime layer.”
Dr. Freya Harrison from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick added, “VAP is a deadly condition, and there are currently no affordable methods to make the tubes less hospitable for microbes. Our new model will assist scientists in developing improved therapies and designing specialized tubes that counteract biofilm formation, potentially enhancing the health outcomes for patients on ventilators.”
This research is part of a global initiative focused on antimicrobial resistance, fostering collaboration between the University of Warwick and Monash University in Melbourne, with backing from the Monash-Warwick Alliance.
Professor Ana Traven, co-Director of the Monash-Warwick Alliance program addressing emerging superbug threats and co-author of the study, remarked, “It is thrilling to collaborate with our colleagues at Warwick on this significant research. Many promising new anti-infectives do not succeed because laboratory experiments do not adequately mimic the complex infections that occur in patients. Therefore, creating laboratory models that reflect disease, as accomplished in this study, is essential for speeding up the discovery of effective antimicrobial therapies that are more likely to succeed in clinical settings.”
