DHA Combo May Prevent Catheter Infections

A study by National Taiwan University (NTU) has found that a combination of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and a small-molecule medicine called SC5005 can effectively prevent catheter-associated infections by eradicating bacterial biofilms on urinary catheters. Biofilms are clusters of bacteria that adhere to surfaces and resist immune responses and antibiotics, increasing the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs), which affect 25% of hospitalized adults with catheters. The DHA-SC5005 combination, named “ERAfilm,” demonstrated the ability to eliminate over 95% of biofilms within 10 minutes, regardless of bacterial species or drug resistance. Notably, after 35 days of continuous use, no bacterial resistance developed, and no toxicity to human cells was observed. Chiu Hao-chieh, the lead researcher, expects ERAfilm to be used as a bladder rinse to prevent infections. While one foreign drug using bacteriophages is in clinical trials, ERAfilm offers broader antibacterial coverage. The team is securing patents in multiple regions, including the US, China, and the EU. This development could significantly reduce the high costs and health risks associated with CAUTIs, which in the US alone cost an additional $450 million annually and carry a 2.3% mortality rate.

Staff writer. (2024, April 24). DHA could prevent catheter infections: Study. Taipei Times. Retrieved from https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2024/04/24/2003816876