Finnish researchers recently discovered that an extremely drug-resistant 'superbug' - Acinetobacter baumannii can be attached to plastic medical devices through tiny 'finger' structures. This discovery will help medical institutions to take Measures to stop it from spreading.
Infections associated with hospitals and medical devices have constituted major health care problems worldwide. Previous studies have shown that such infections are often associated with the ability of pathogens to infect biological and non-biological surfaces.
Anton Zalavov, head of the Joint Biotechnology Laboratory at the Department of Chemistry at the University of Turku in Finland, said: 'Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the most difficult pathogens in medical institutions around the world, giving priority to the World Health Organization. The list of pathogens for the development of new antibiotics topped the list.
A team led by Zavialov used X-ray crystallography to find three finger-like structures on ACU fimbriae on the surface of Acinetobacter baumannii. These 'fingers' can be tightly attached to medical devices and tools. The widely used hydrophobic plastics make the bacteria 'home and settle' to form biofilm. ACU pili is a hairy protein structure that exists on the surface of many pathogenic bacteria.
Researchers who bind antibodies at the tip of the pilus completely block bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. The use of hydrophilic materials instead of hydrophobic plastics in medical devices can also simply and economically reduce the spread of pathogens.
The researchers also found that P. aeruginosa with strong resistance has similar pili and can form similar biofilms. They predict that the method against Acinetobacter baumannii may also be suitable for controlling P. aeruginosa and other similar bacteria. The research report has been published in the new issue of the National Academy of Sciences.