As the number of drug-resistant bacteria increases, several health officials, including the World Health Organization, already claimed the bacteria as a major public health crisis that is only expected to get worse. However, a group of researchers claims to have discovered a new treatment for this.
(Photo : Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Warning signs alert staff and visitors to wash their hands at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital on March 16, 2010 in Birmingham, England.
Treating Antibiotic-Resistance Bacteria with Gold
Spanish Researchers identify gold-based antibiotics as treatments for bacteria that are resistant to drugs, also known as "superbugs". This study will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen, Denmark.
As per Interesting Engineering, gold holds great potential and is a good alternative for treatment. Researchers tested 19 gold compounds and found that 16 out of 19 (86%) are effective against at least one hard-to-treat bacterium, while the remaining display potent activity against several bacteria that are considered resistant.
Gold atoms contain properties that medical people can enlist in fighting these bacteria, which makes them metalloantibiotics that contains gold ion at their core. This exciting potential new approach has several ways of stopping bacteria in their tracks.
If one tactic or technique does not kill a germ, it will come up with another mechanism to kill the bacteria. Gold is considered biologically inert for humans, meaning that gold-based medicine's safety is likely safe. Through this component, the gold will stop enzymes from working, disrupt the function of the bacterial membrane, and damage DNA.
Discovering Treatment
Research Co-Author Dr. Soto Gonzalez stated, "It is particularly exciting to see that some of the gold complexes were effective against MRSA and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter Baumannii, as there are two biggest causes of hospital-acquired infections."
Bacteria like Staphylococcus Aureus, Staphylococcus Epidermidis, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia, and Acinetobacter Baumannii may not come as strong as Anthrax but these are also responsible for far more deaths. Their existence is among the most concerning crisis in the world given that they can cause incredible harm, and worse, death.
EurekAlert reported that the gold complexes that the researchers used for the study were known as gold (III) complexes and were considered inexpensive to make. Additionally, it can also be easily modified, which will provide a vast amount of scope for drug development.
"With research on other types of gold metalloantibiotics also providing promising results, the future is bright for gold-based antibiotics," Gonzalez added.
Also Read: New 3D-Printed Sperm-Sorting Device Could Help Struggling Couples
As per the United Press International, drug-resistant infections approximately kill 700,000 people annually all over the world. Several institutions and public health officials already claimed this bacteria is dangerous and is only expected to get worse.
The World Health Organization classified this as one of the greatest public threats facing humanity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevent stated that when this occurs to a person, it will develop the ability to defeat the drugs and will kill them, making it almost impossible to treat.
Related Article: New Shape-Shifting Antibiotics May Eliminate Drug-Resistant Bacteria
