Vaccination against multidrug-resistant hospital germs

Vaccination against multidrug-resistant hospital germs (MRSA). US researchers develop vaccine against multidrug-resistant hospital germs.

18/01/2011

US scientists have taken a good step forward in the development of a multidrug resistant hospital virus (MRSA) vaccine. Researchers at the University of Rochester have identified a key protein that could prevent the growth of the multidrug-resistant pathogen.

The enzyme glucosaminidase acts as a kind of zipper in the cell division, which opens the cell wall and thus allows the exit of the daughter cell, the US researchers report. As part of their study, the scientists were able to identify four different antibodies, which specifically attach to the MRSA version of the protein glucosaminidase and thereby eliminate it. Thus, the multidrug-resistant pathogens of the strain Staphylococcus aureus (staphylococci) could no longer halve and burst due to the blockade of their cell division mechanism. The spread of dangerous hospital germs in the body could be significantly reduced and possibly even prevented, explained the US scientists at the annual meeting of the Orthopedic Research Society in Long Beach, California.

Antibodies prevent the spread of MRSA
In the course of their investigations, the US researchers tested the four monoclonal antibodies, which shuts down glucosaminidase in multidrug-resistant hospital germs, both in laboratory tests and in animal experiments. The result: In the cell cultures, the growth of Staphylococcus aureus strains resistant to all common antibiotics could be interrupted. Even in mice after vaccination of the corresponding antibodies in contact with the MRSA pathogens only half as many experimental animals become ill as without vaccine protection. The protective effect has clearly correlated with the vaccine dose, the researchers continue. According to Edward Schwarz from the University of Rochester, human immunization could not reach 100 percent vaccination coverage, but even if the incidence rate could only be reduced by 35 percent, this would be a tremendous success, considering the spread of multidrug-resistant hospital germs and the associated risk of infection increases.

Health risk increased by MRSA infections worldwide
According to international health authorities, the number of multidrug-resistant bacteria of the Staphylococcus aureus strain has increased significantly in recent years worldwide. Because traditional treatment with antibiotics does not help multidrug-resistant hospital germs, physicians have been looking for ways to prevent and treat MRSA infections for quite some time. MRSA are particularly common in hospitals and lead here annually to a variety of diseases. They represent a serious problem in the clinics because the bacteria, especially in open wounds and weakened immune system of those affected can easily penetrate into the body and here at worst life-threatening diseases such as pneumonia, septicemia, inflammation of the endocarditis (endocarditis) or trigger the Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS). An extrapolation from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) assumes that around 132,000 hospital patients in Germany suffered from an infection with MRSA in 2008. According to data from Edward Schwarz and colleagues, MRSA causes around 500,000 illnesses and 19,000 deaths annually in the USA. Vaccination against multidrug-resistant hospital germs would, therefore, be a major step forward, according to researchers. (Fp)

Also read about hospital germs:
Every tenth hospital treatment hurts
Risk of infection in the hospital
Sick by hospital germs
Resistant bacteria in German hospitals

Image: Sabine Holzke