Hospital Superbug Eats Medical Plastic in Just 7 Days

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Brunel University scientists discovered hospital bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa can break down and eat plastic used in medical devices, challenging the belief that pathogens can't degrade such materials.

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The superbug's Pap1 enzyme destroyed 78% of polycaprolactone plastic in just seven days, using it as its sole food source to survive longer in clinical settings.

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Broken-down plastic fragments help bacteria form tougher biofilms—protective shields that increase antibiotic resistance and make infections harder to treat.

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Medical devices at risk include sutures, wound dressings, stents, catheters, bone scaffolds, and breast implants, raising concerns about patient safety.

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Pseudomonas aeruginosa already causes 559,000 deaths annually worldwide, with treatment costs reaching €15,265 per European hospital case.

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The plastic-eating gene sits on a transferable genetic element, potentially allowing this dangerous ability to spread to other bacterial strains.

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Scientists identified alternative materials like polydioxanone (PDO) and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) that may resist enzymatic breakdown.

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"We need to reconsider how pathogens exist in the hospital environment. Plastics could be food for these bacteria," warns Professor Ronan McCarthy.

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Hospital infection control protocols may need updating to include monitoring for plastic-degrading bacteria, especially during unexplained outbreaks.

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