GHP July 2016

ghp July 2016 | 51 Research & Development Superbugs are spreading, and traditional treatments based on the use of antibiotics are ineffective in stopping them. China reported the rising emergency early this year, now the United States Centre for the Control and Prevention of Diseases has identified pathogenic bacterial resistant to all known antibiotics, which can then lead to fatal infections due to the impossibility of treatment. Europe is already under pressure, but Copma, an Italian company specialised in hospital sanitising processes, can immediately give a contribution to counteract the spread of superbugs in healthcare. Super bacteria DNA contains the mcr-1 gene, which spreads quickly between different bacteria species, conferring drug resistance. Thomas Frieden, Director of the United States Centre for the Control and Prevention of Diseases stated it may be the end of the possibility to use antibiotics. In Italy, one third of hospital infections is caused by the pathogens Escherichia coli and Klebsiella penumoniae, whose infection can lead to sepsis, pneumonia, urinary tract and soft tissue diseases: these bacteria have also developed more and more resistance to antibiotics, with rates of mortality from infection close to 50 percent. Italian Researchers are proposing a new approach to limit the acquisition of resistance to the drugs in bacteria. Side-stepping the traditional approach based on the use of disinfectants to clean the surfaces and of drugs, Copma and the University of Ferrara have developed a cleaning system of the hospital environment that guarantees an effective response to the risk of infection by patients and to the phenomenon of multi-resistance to antibiotics. Mario Pinca, Copma CEO, commented: “We are speaking directly to all possible levels, so that every action to reduce the level of risk can be taken without delay. Copma and the University of Ferrara have proved with scientific evidence that Europe can immediately counteract the environmental multi- resistance of pathogens. This can be achieved by using a special sanitising system based on probiotic bacteria, called ‘PCHS®’ The research results have been published on the internationally recognised Plos One scientific journal, in two papers signed by the researchers of the CIAS Research Center, of the Ferrara University, led by Professor Sante Mazzacane. Mazzacane states: “Previous studies by Gian Maria Rossolini, a microbiologist at the Careggi Hospital in Florence, estimated that the average prevalence of hospital infections is around six percent. In Italy, that’s about 300,000 cases per year.” He added: “In very recent international meetings, the cost of treatment of infections in the United States, and then by analogy in the European Union, was valued at $20 billion annually, and affects millions of patients. Using PCHS®, we believe we can significantly reduce this impact, with a benefit primarily for patients and secondly for the costs associated with caring.” The team coordinated by Prof. Mazzacane have indeed proven the ability of PCHS® to colonise hospital surfaces with probiotic bacteria safe for humans, reducing by 80%, or more, the presence of pathogenic bacteria, which are able to develop resistance to antibiotics. The simplicity of the system is based on changing the environmental microbioma and on the reduction of the number of harmful to human health bacteria. The European and global impact of antimicrobial resistance is huge. United Kingdom economist, Lord O’Neill, has defined antimicrobial resistance (AMR) “an exponential disaster already in motion.” O’Neill, who is currently finalising a new report for the UK government, said his interim findings point to AMR killing 10 million people each year, with a total global GDP loss of 100 TRILLION dollars by 2050. Copma President, Alberto Rodolfi, remarked that: “O’Neill’s report should sound a loud alarm throughout Europe’s health ministries.” Rodolfi said, “Either we roll-out new hygiene solutions today, or we pay heavily tomorrow with lives lost, and GDP hugely weakened.” Rodolfi added: “The PCHS® offers a direct weapon against AMR, with all the benefits, including economic, European governments can achieve.” Watch a short information video explaining probiotics: https://youtu.be/N-ql4kR9ABs For further information, please visit: www.copma.it