Killing Staphylococcus aureus with Light-Activated Antimicrobial Agent
Author Information
Author(s): Zolfaghari Parjam S, Packer Samantha, Singer Mervyn, Nair Sean P, Bennett Jon, Street Cale, Wilson Michael
Primary Institution: University College London
Hypothesis
Can photodynamic therapy using methylene blue effectively kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in mouse wound models?
Conclusion
Photodynamic therapy is effective at reducing the number of viable MRSA in wounds without causing collateral damage to host tissues.
Supporting Evidence
- Photodynamic therapy resulted in a 25-fold reduction in viable MRSA in excision wounds.
- Histological examination showed no significant tissue necrosis after treatment.
- The study used a well-characterized strain of MRSA known to cause wound infections.
Takeaway
This study shows that shining a special light on a dye can help kill bad bacteria in wounds, which is important because some bacteria are resistant to regular medicine.
Methodology
Mice were treated with methylene blue and laser light, and the number of viable bacteria in wounds was measured.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the involvement of authors with financial interests in the technology being tested.
Limitations
The study was conducted in mice, and results may not directly translate to humans.
Participant Demographics
Eight-week old female C57 Black mice, weighing 14–18 g.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.002
Statistical Significance
p<0.008
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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