A friendly bacterium helps keep the air filters clean

Nov 6, 2008 12:02 GMT  ·  By
Unlike tuberculosis (shown here infiltrating human culture tissue), L. plantarum 299 protects the cells from harmful outside influences
   Unlike tuberculosis (shown here infiltrating human culture tissue), L. plantarum 299 protects the cells from harmful outside influences

A certain type of bacteria seems to be very effective in holding off other bacteria that would otherwise infest intubated patients in hospitals. When harmless bacteria from the mouth and throat reach the lungs, they regularly trigger a reaction, which comes as ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). This affliction has very high mortality rates and its risks increase at a rate of about 1 percent for each day of intubation.  

Severely ill patients, who can only breathe mechanically, through machines, are very unlikely to nudge doctors and tell them they can't breathe, so the new discovery, which features the probiotic bacterium, Lactobacillus plantarum 299, comes as a real help to caregivers in hospitals around the world. The bacterium sets inside the mouth of the patient and prevents other microorganisms from entering the lungs or the tube of the breathing machine.  

"We hypothesized that swabbing the mouth with probiotics would be an effective (and micro biologically attractive) method of reducing pathogenic oral microorganisms in intubated, mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients. VAP is connected with longer intensive care and hospital stays, additional costs and high mortality. The risk of developing this condition increases by 1% with each additional day of mechanical ventilation," said Bengt Klarin from the University Hospital in Lund, Sweden, the leader of the team behind this new study.  

"It is not likely to incorporate resistance genes or plasmids or to transfer genetic material. Consequently it does not contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains. As the bacteria adhere to the oral mucosa, they are able to counteract potentially pathogenic bacteria around the clock, which is superior to the fairly short-term effect of orally applied chemical agents," he added, in regard to the differences between L. plantarum 299 and the usually used antiseptic chlorhexidine (CHX).  

Comparative tests show that the bacterium outdid the antiseptic in all tests, preventing the appearance of tooth discoloration, irritation and allergic reaction, which can be very dangerous to unconscious patients. All in all, the use of this bacterium could offer a natural shield against harmful microorganisms, especially considering that L. plantarum 299 showed no signs of developing resistance to antibiotics.