A strain of the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa, commonly linked to hospital infections, has been found to produce an enzyme named Pap1 that can degrade polycaprolactone (PCL), a medical-grade plastic.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a critical concern in hospitals due to its resistance to antibiotics and its association with serious infections, including catheter-related urinary tract infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

This discovery marks the first instance of a pathogen capable of breaking down plastics typically used in healthcare settings, raising significant concerns about the integrity of medical devices.

Experiments revealed that exposure to PCL led to increased biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can enhance antibiotic resistance and complicate treatment efforts.

The ability of this bacterium to degrade plastic fragments not only aids in biofilm formation but also protects it from antibiotics, making infections tougher to treat.

The presence of plastic-degrading enzymes like Pap1 significantly enhances the virulence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Research involving the insertion of the Pap1 enzyme gene into Escherichia coli demonstrated the enzyme's effectiveness in breaking down PCL under laboratory conditions.

This discovery, published in the journal Cell Reports, challenges the long-held belief that pathogens cannot degrade medical plastics, indicating a need for revised infection control practices.

This capability to consume plastics used in implants, sutures, and wound dressings raises concerns about the bacteria's persistence and potential to cause prolonged infections.

Experts may need to reconsider monitoring practices in hospitals and explore the use of plastics that are less digestible by microbes to enhance patient safety.

Notably, P. aeruginosa PA-W23 can utilize PCL as its sole carbon source for growth, which may allow it to thrive in hospital environments.

The study suggests that switching to more durable plastics in medical applications may be essential to mitigate these emerging risks.