Saccharin, a common artificial sweetener, may soon play a new medical role. Recent research shows it can destroy some of the world’s most dangerous bacteria.
“Antibiotic resistance is one of the major threats to modern medicine,” said Professor Ronan McCarthy, who led the study at Brunel University London.
“Procedures such as tooth extractions and cancer treatment often rely on antibiotics to prevent or treat infection. But doctors are increasingly facing cases where the drugs no longer work.”
Deadly pathogens are becoming resistant
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) caused 1.27 million deaths in 2019. Nearly five million deaths involved resistant infections.
The most dangerous bacteria include Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both of which thrive in hospital settings.
The World Health Organization…