Scientists close to wiping out infection

LEADING Ulster scientists are using cutting-edge technology to wipe out potentially lethal sources of infection in hospitals, it can be revealed today.

LEADING Ulster scientists are using cutting-edge technology to wipe out potentially lethal sources of infection in hospitals, it can be revealed today.The University of Ulster researchers are aiming to develop “smart catheters” and self-cleaning surgical instruments – breakthroughs that could improve patient safety and save the NHS millions of pounds every year.The revolutionary projects involve attaching micro-sensors to catheters which would trigger a warning to doctors when they detect early stage infection.Another stage of the research is probing the possibility of coating catheters with a non-toxic film targeting germs at source.Dr Patrick Dunlop, from the University-based NI Bio-Engineering Centre, said: “Coating surgical instruments with a thin invisible film which, when irradiated with UV light, can effectively clean themselves.”This would mean that the instruments could be used again and again instead of the present single use because of the fear of spreading prion material linked to the human form of CJD.”The development of “smart catheters” is a cross border project between the university’s Nanotechnology Research Institute and the NI Bioengineering Centre on the Jordanstown campus and a team from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin.Dr Dunlop said: “Catheters are life-saving implements used mainly in hospitals.”But they can pose a problem for medical staff as they offer bacteria a direct route into a patient’s body to cause infection.”The problem is that bacteria attach themselves to a catheter and form a tough bio-film antibiotic-resistant coat on the device long before medical staff are even aware of the infection.”This leaves the patient open to further infection as well as causing the added complication and risk of having an operation to remove the infected device.”It is tragic that a relatively common bug can lead to patient discomfort, illness and, in extreme cases death.”The research, which is being funded by the Department of Health, should take a year to complete and University experts believed that if the technology proves effective it would revolutionise instrument decontamination/sterilization procedures in hospitals – saving the NHS a fortune in the process and reducing the risk of spreading infections such as CJD.