Plastic-degrading bacteria could be source of persistent infection in medical settings

A bacterial strain could be capable of degrading a common medical plastic.

In a study published in Cell Reports, researchers examined the clinical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa known as PA-W23.

The researchers found that the bacteria were capable of breaking down polycaprolactone — a polymer used in sutures, wound dressings and implants — to produce stronger biofilms using a plastic-degrading enzyme. They stressed that these bacteria may exploit the polymer as a food source in nutrient-limited settings. In vitro testing demonstrated that the bacteria broke down nearly 80% of polycaprolactone within a seven-day period and that exposure to the polymer boosted its biofilm-forming capacity, which is a known measure of antibiotic resistance and infection persistence.

The findings suggested that screening for plastic-degrading capacity may help improve the durability of medical devices and manage the risk of infection.

Read more: Cell Reports

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