VIB researchers develop new way to fight hospital infections
A combination of drugs has been discovered to be extremely effective in combatting fungal infections in hospitals
Bad biofilm
The scientists found that certain drugs used to fight fungal infections help make a form of antibiotics very effective against Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Biofilms are groups of organisms that surround themselves with a protective matrix, making them resistant to antibiotics and immune defences. Staphylococcus aureus are a major cause of infections in hospitals.
Many hospital infections are the results of biofilms forming on medical devices, like catheters and prostheses, as well as on tissue. The Flemish researchers found that caspofungin, used to treat severe fungal infections such as candida, enhances the anti-biofilm activity of certain antibiotics, like fluoroquinolones.
The results open up new pathways to help patients, such as those who use catheters to administer drugs intravenously or those with an implanted medical device like a pacemaker. More research is now necessary to make the treatment more effective.
Photo: Ingimage
