As of: February 27, 2024, 9:19 a.m
By: Jasmina Deshmeh
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Multi-resistant germs are also known as “silent pandemics”.
Researchers from the USA have now taken another step in combating the pathogens.
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a global problem because they are becoming more and more common and leading to more and more deaths, as the
German Center for Infection Research (DZIF)
reports.
People can come into contact with them through the environment, food, and especially through stays in hospitals.
US researchers at Harvard University have now succeeded in developing an antibiotic that could combat many of these bacteria.
They published their research results in the journal
Science
.
Active ingredient destroys multi-resistant germs without harming healthy cells
Multi-resistant hospital germs are insensitive to most antibiotics and are therefore very dangerous (symbolic image).
© BSIP/Imago
According to the researchers, the molecule “cresomycin” plays a key role: antibiotics work by disrupting metabolic processes or the cell division of bacteria.
Many antibiotics target the bacteria’s ribosomes, the small “protein factories”.
If bacteria manage to change their ribosome structure so that drugs no longer attach to their RNA binding sites and block them, the bacteria can multiply uninhibited again - they are "resistant" to an antibiotic.
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The Harvard researchers have now managed to circumvent this “evasion mechanism” of multi-resistant bacterial strains without damaging healthy cells.
In both laboratory tests and animal experiments, the molecule was effective against pathogens that can cause, among other things, dangerous pneumonia and blood poisoning.
Clinical studies on humans are now to follow.
"Although we do not yet know whether cresomycin and similar drugs are safe and effective in humans, our results show significantly improved inhibitory activity compared to clinically approved drugs against a long list of pathogenic bacterial strains that kill more than a million people each year."
Study leader Andrew Myers, Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology
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Multi-resistant germs – that’s why they are so dangerous
In principle, according to the German Medical Association's
information portal,
multi-resistant bacteria are
no more dangerous than others - at least not for healthy people - and antibiotic resistance is a natural phenomenon.
As a rule, the body copes with an infection with resistant “leftover bacteria”.
It becomes problematic when multi-resistant bacteria spread widely, for example when:
Antibiotics are stopped too quickly in the event of an infection
Antibiotics are given too often
Antibiotics are dosed too low
Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used (which work against a wide range of bacteria)
The meat industry uses antibiotics to curb the spread of diseases in factory farming.
People then absorb the antibiotics through eating meat
If immunocompromised people become infected with the multi-resistant pathogens, the infection is difficult to treat.
The usual medications are then ineffective, the course of the disease is more severe and in some cases even fatal.
Even healthy people can be carriers of multi-resistant germs.
If the germs get into your body during an operation, the body's own bacteria can also become dangerous for you.
How can you protect yourself from multi-resistant bacteria?
The best protection against multi-resistant bacteria is hygiene.
The first priority is to wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with warm water and soap.
Hygiene items such as towels and toothbrushes should, if possible, not be shared and should be changed regularly.
In hospitals and nursing homes, hygiene regulations must be strictly observed.
If there are no immunocompromised people living in the household, it is sufficient to clean regularly with normal household cleaners.
Disinfectants are not necessary.
It is also important to always take an antibiotic exactly as prescribed by your doctor if you have a bacterial infection.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.