One nose bacteria might be able to kill another, deadlier one

According to the journal Nature, new research shows that some humans are self-equipped with a method to kill a particularly deadly superbug.

About a third of the population has the bacteria staphylococcus aureus living uneventfully in their noses, according to the statement. But when the bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics (in which it is known as MRSA), it can wreak havoc in about 2 percent of people.

This study looked at 187 hospital patients and found that another type of naturally occurring bacteria found in human noses might be able to fight off the staphylococcus aureus bacteria, possibly even in the antibiotic resistant form.

The people (about 9 percent of the population) who had staphylococcus lugdensis in their noses were six times less likely to have staphylococcus aruerus found there too.

Since MRSA is already a problem in some hospital (and other) settings, researchers studying staphylococcus lugdensis are also wary of over-using the bacteria’s newly discovered purpose. Experts said they wouldn’t want to create another situation in which a further antibiotic resistant strain of staphylococcus aureus arises. That could be a problem especially given the overall concerns of antibiotic resistance, George Washington University infectious disease specialist John Powers, MD told Nature.

In preliminary research with mice, it appeared like a treatment made out of staphylococcus lugdensis killed staphylococcus aureus skin infections. According to the study’s lead author, development for a human drug could happen soon.