RED DEER – Two simple sugars are proving effective weapons against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Research has found two different monosaccharides are effective in fighting some of the most deadly bacteria.
“The use of sugars may be an acceptable, cost effective method to prevent or treat the infections of tissue in horses or other animal species,” said Sheryl King, head of equine science at the University of Southern Illinois.
She explained this research at the Alberta horse breeders conference held here.
It is known each cell has projections called markers that can attach a cell to food or other cells. The chemistry of these markers on the bacteria is compatible with the chemistry of certain simple sugars. They fit together like a lock and key. If the harmful bacteria attaches to the sugar, it cannot attach itself to another cell and will die before it can cause a serious disease.
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This 10-year-old research was spurred by the increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance. Of the more than 100 antibiotic drugs available, there is a growing list of bacteria that are resistant to all but the most powerful drug, vancomycin.
In the last two years there have been two reports in scientific literature about staphylococcus infection that showed resistance to vancomycin as well. This threat means people could become severely ill or die from simple infections like strep throat, said King.
The resistance problem started as soon as antibiotics were discovered but improper use of medicine has accelerated the problem.
“We’ve gotten into this craze where we’re thinking of germs as something bad to be destroyed at all costs,” King said. “There are bacteria that are absolutely essential for life.”
Strong bacteria survive
An example of good bacteria are the microbes found in the intestinal tract.
These are necessary for digestion in all warm-blooded animals including humans. Microbes live and intermingle in a community of beneficial bacteria, benign bacteria and pathogenic bacteria. Pathogenic numbers are usually in such low numbers they do no harm.
“The population balance of these communities has a lot to do with disease. As long as there is enough good bacteria, they outcompete the bad bacteria,” King said.
Resistant bacteria are everywhere and can be picked up anywhere there is high antibiotic use. This might include day cares, hospitals or some farms.
When antibiotics are administered, susceptible bacteria die and the resistant ones live on to reproduce. They may swap their resistant DNA with other bacteria they touch. They do not have to be the same species. Indiscriminate use of antibiotics has led to heightened resistance problems.
“If you have to administer an antibiotic four times a day that means that antibiotic does not stay in your system long enough in a 24-hour period. If you administer it only two or three times a day you are not giving a sufficient dose of the antibiotic to kill the bugs and you are promoting resistance,” King said.
People worsen the problem by stopping treatment early. If the patient or animal appears to be feeling better within a short time, some people stop the medication and save it for another time and another illness.
Prophylactic use of antibiotics where medication is given on a just-in-case basis also contributes to the problem.
Drugs may also be administered without knowing what bacteria caused the infection. People use too many germ-killing antiseptics and antibacterial soaps. Regular soap and water works as well, said King.
“Use good hygiene over disinfection.”
