In a study conducted in the UK, a common type of bacteria in hospitals, the plastics used in medical devices both breakdown and fed with these materials were found. Researchers have examined a type of bacterium called ‘Pseudomonas Aeruginosa’, which caused approximately 559 thousand deaths per year, is isolated from a patient’s wound infection. Thanks to a special enzyme, this bacteria can break down certain types of plastic and use it as an energy source. Scientists named this enzyme ‘pap1’.
In the experiments in the laboratory, it was seen that this enzyme not only disintegrate the plastic, but also allows the bacteria to grow by using this material as food. ‘Pseudomonas Aeruginosa’ can form protective layers called ‘Biyofilm’, which makes it resistant to the immune system and antibiotics. In the study, it was observed that bacteria developed larger and durable biofilmler on plastic.
The analyzes revealed that it strengthens this structure by integrating the plastic substances that bacteriare into the biofilm. Plastic has served as a cement and contributed to the more resistant of infection. According to the researchers, these findings question the safety of plastic -based medical devices such as catheter, orthopedic implant and hydrogel pads for burn treatment. Bacteria can settle and disrupt them on these devices, causing treatments to fail and deteriorate the patient’s condition.
