An innovative strategy for the effective reduction of MDR pathogens from the nosocomial environment

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is currently one of the main concerns for human health. Due to its rapid increase and global diffusion, several common microbial infections might become not curable in the future decades, making it impossible to apply other lifesaver therapies, such as transplant or chemotherapy. AMR is frequently observed in hospital pathogens, due to selective pressure exerted by antibiotic use, and consistently with this, in the recent years many actions have been proposed to limit AMR spread, including hygiene measures for hospital professionals and a wiser antibiotic usage. Indeed, the hospital environment itself represents a reservoir of pathogens, whose control was so far addressed by conventional sanitation procedures, which however cannot prevent recontamination and might further favor the selection of resistant strains. Here we report the results collected by studying an innovative sanitation strategy based on the use probiotic bacteria, capable of reducing in a stable way the surface load of pathogens and their AMR. Collected data suggest that this system might contribute significantly to AMR control and might be thus considered as on of the tools for AMR and infection prevention and control.