A patch has been created that recognizes antibiotic-resistant bacteria

If you cut yourself badly with a knife or getanother similar wound, microorganisms hazardous to health can enter your body. They can cause various bacterial infections that may require antibiotics to treat. Unfortunately, many microorganisms tend to develop resistance to drugs, so the sooner they are found in your body, the more likely you will be to cure. To quickly detect the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the wound, Chinese scientists have created a patch that, like a traffic light, can stain green, yellow and red. But what do these shades mean and how can the dressing recognize dangerous bacteria?

New patch can reduce bacterial infections

About the new invention of the Institute staffApplied Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was featured in the scientific journal ACS Central Science. Researchers began to create a color-changing patch because, with proper performance, it can reduce the incidence of intestinal infections and other diseases that result from the ingestion of dangerous bacteria.

Fast treatment of bacterial infections

In the course of scientific work, researchers succeededcreate a material of green color, which four hours after sticking to the wound turns yellow or red. If the patch turns yellow, it means that there are bacteria in the wound, but they can be easily destroyed by antibiotics. But if the material acquires a red tint, this means that its constituent substances react with enzymes that are secreted by bacteria that are immune to drugs.

See also: How dangerous is it to give antibiotics to children?

As you might guess, in the case of stainingDoctors can simply prescribe antibiotics to patients with a yellow patch. If the material turns red, doctors can irradiate it with bright light, which will cause it to release highly active types of oxygen and thereby weaken the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. It is believed that in this way, doctors can stop the development of infection in a timely manner and help patients avoid complications.

Patch discoloration upon detection of drug-sensitive bacteria (DS) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (DR)

At the moment, the technology is workingwas tested only on mice. Wounds were inflicted on their bodies and E. coli bacteria were introduced. After applying a new dressing, it really turned red and helped scientists heal the wound faster with bright radiation. When exactly the technology will be tested in humans is still unknown.

E. coli bacteria (Escherichia coli)

Before that, Chinese scientists want to improve howat least two properties of the new patch. First of all, they want their material to recognize even a small strain of bacteria that is in the wound. Secondly, they need to make the recognition of bacteria and discoloration of the patch occur much faster than four hours.

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In general, the creation of such patches is underway.constantly and by different groups of scientists. Today, there are a huge number of dressings that can quickly eliminate physical pain and even help in the fight against smoking. Recently, American scientists impregnated the patch with substances that contribute to the rapid healing of wounds. You can read about what they got as a result in our special material.