Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/824946
47 ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE & STEWARDSHIP Komodo Dragon Blood Produces New Antibiotic Compound By Brian Zimmerman R esearchers used a molecule with antimicrobial prop- erties detected in the blood of Komodo dragons to create a synthetic compound that expedites the healing process of infected wounds in mice, according to a study published in npj Biofilms and Microbiomes. The Komodo dragon is a reptile found in Indonesia. It car- ries more than 80 bacterial strains in its mouth. Some of these bacteria are known to cause problematic infections like sepsis. However, the animals are not harmed by the bacteria, suggesting immunity, according to the BBC. After identifying an antimicrobial peptide in the blood of the reptile, researchers developed a synthetic compound based upon the molecule. The synthetic compound — dubbed DRGN-1 — was able to permeate the bacterial membranes of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphy- lococcus aureus when treating wounds in mice infected with both bacterial strains. Infected wounds treated with DRGN-1 healed at a significantly faster rate than wounds not treated with the synthetic molecular derivative. "Our results showed that our short synthetic peptide DRGN- 1 significantly inhibited biofilms of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus separately, as well as in mixed biofilms," wrote the study's authors. "Since the formation of biofilm protects bacteria during infection and allows for survival in a hostile environment, the inhibition of biofilm formation by DRGN-1 in a wound may serve as an additional mechanism to pre- vent bacterial survival in the host and promote healing." n 7 Things to Know About Inpatient, Outpatient Antibiotic Use By Heather Punke A "significant portion" of antibiotic prescriptions written in the U.S. is inappropriate, and the nation lacks a lot of the data needed to make a dent in the fight against antibiotic resistance, according to a report from Pew issued in March. "Enhanced data are needed across all settings in order to design targeted and effective stew- ardship interventions that will improve the use and preserve the effectiveness" of antibi- otics, according to the report, "Trends in U.S. Antibiotic Use". With the limited data available, the Pew report did put together statistics and information on antibiotic use in the U.S. healthcare system. Inpatient use 1. More than half of all hospital patients re- ceive antibiotics. 2. Use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in- creased between 2006 and 2012, while the use of targeted, narrow-spectrum antibiotics de- creased. "As broad-spectrum antibiotics have been shown to significantly increase the risk of drug-resistant infections, this trend is con- cerning." 3. One study of a sample of hospitals found 37 percent of prescriptions for urinary tract infections were potentially unnecessary or in- appropriate. Outpatient use 4. While the number of antibiotic prescrip- tions written in physicians' offices, emergen- cy departments and other outpatient settings declined 6 percent from 2006 to 2014, it re- mained more than 2.5 times Sweden's outpa- tient prescription rate. 5. One in three outpatient antibiotic prescrip- tions are unnecessary. 6. Of the unneeded prescriptions, most are for acute respiratory infections that are not caused by bacteria, like asthma, allergies or colds. 7. For three common respiratory conditions that are treatable with antibiotics, providers chose the wrong antibiotic in a third of cases. Getting more data Ultimately, the Pew researchers argue more data is needed. ey suggest the following capturing antibiotic prescription data from retail and urgent care clinics and dentists of- fices and via telemedicine; and mandating re- porting of hospital antibiotic use through the National Healthcare Safety Network. n Komodo dragons carry more than 80 bacterial strains in their mouths. Some can cause infection, but the Komodo dragons are not harmed by the bacteria, suggesting immunity.