Chilean plant shows potential means of fighting bacterial resistance

Scientists from the University of Copenhagen have identified a potential new method of combating the growing problem of bacterial resistance through the study of a Chilean rainforest plant.

A team led by the university's Dr Jes Gitz Holler has found that this specific avocado plant – the leaves of which are used by the Mapuche people to heal wounds – contains a natural substance that targets a key resistance mechanism in yellow staphylococci.

These specific bacteria are the most common cause of infection in wounds from an operation, developing resistance rapidly by using an efflux pump in their membrane to pumps antibiotics out as soon as they have gained access.

However, the plant substance can inhibit this pumping process, breaking down the bacterial defence mechanism.

Dr Gitz Holler said: "At this time there are no products on the market that target this same efflux-inhibitor mechanism."

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control conducted an initiative called European Antibiotic Awareness Day in November last year, which aimed to highlight the growing problem that multidrug-resistant infections are creating.