Monday, 22 July 2024
New research from the University of Nottingham and University of Birmingham has highlighted that blue light has the ability to kill antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria isolated from ear infections in dogs.
Ear infections are one of the most common infections in dogs, affecting up to 20% of pets worldwide.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium associated with persistent and recurring dog ear infections, is often resistant to antibiotics. This can lead to treatment failure and surgical removal of the ear canal, resulting in hearing loss and a poorer quality of life for the dogs.
The difficulties of treatment demand new and more effective remedies for this condition.
Research from a collaboration between the University of Nottingham and University of Birmingham, published in Frontiers in Microbiology [link], used different frequencies of blue light to kill antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from dog ear infections.
Some frequencies of blue light killed at least 99% of the bacteria. Combining blue light with antibiotic treatment increased its effectiveness even further.
There were differences in the sensitivity of strains to blue light, but unlike antibiotic therapy, there is no evidence of increasing resistance to this treatment.
Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem in both people and animals, including their pets. Pseudomonas ear infections in dogs are often very difficult to treat long-term because of this resistance.
He continued: “The possibility of a new, non-invasive treatment for this condition, based on exposure to antimicrobial frequencies of blue light, has the potential to transform outcomes for pets and avoid the costly and difficult surgery which may ultimately be required otherwise.”
The next step in the research is to test blue light treatment against a larger panel of clinical Pseudomonas strains isolated from dogs suffering from ear infections.
The ultimate aim of this research is to develop a simple method of applying the treatment to dogs in clinics.
Story credits
More information is available from Dr Robert Atterbury on robert.atterbury@nottingham.ac.uk
Faith Pring - Media Relations Manager
Email: faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
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About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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