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The polymers
activate a pink fluorescent
dye when they come into contact with bacteria
|
A wound dressing
that glows to indicate an infection has been developed.
Scientists at
Sheffield University have produced a gel containing molecules that bind to
bacteria and activate a fluorescent dye.
The dressing emits a
pinkish glow under ultraviolet light when harmful levels of bacteria are
present.
It should help
doctors treating chronic wounds such as ulcers. Army medics could also use it
to identify soldiers with infected battlefield injuries.
Part of the funding
for the research has come from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory,
an agency of the Ministry of Defence.
It is hoped that
testing on patients will begin within two years.
Professor Sheila
MacNeil, one of the researchers at the University of Sheffield, said: "If
you know you've got infection it's going to change how you treat your soldiers,
it's going to change how you're going to treat those patients in the home.
"We could get
to an early-stage clinical trial in two to three years."
As well as shining a
spotlight on bacteria, the gel can rid a wound of up to 80% of surface bugs in
about three hours.
Currently, it takes
several days to determine significant levels of bacterial infection by growing
swab samples in the laboratory.
Bacteria highlighted
by the dressing include those which cause legionella, salmonella, E. coli,
MRSA, C difficile, meningitis and peritonitis.
Project leader Dr
Steve Rimmer, also from the University of Sheffield, said: "The
availability of these gels would help clinicians and wound care nurses to make
rapid, informed decisions about wound management, and help reduce the overuse
of antibiotics."
SOURCE:BBC NEWS
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