A research team from the University of Missouri has developed a new approach for fighting drug-resistant infections.

The spray-mist device developed by the researchers can reportedly deliver last-resort antibiotics directly into infected tissue without incurring the harmful side effects typically caused by antibiotic delivery through the bloodstream.

Source: University of Missouri

Working in conjunction with an industry partner, the team used the needle-free device to treat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is a dangerous bacterium that has become resistant to several common antibiotics.

During trials, the device successfully delivered vancomycin — which is a common last-resort antibiotic — deep into infected tissue without incurring side effects like kidney damage. The team discovered that unlike topical creams or ointments that can be easily wiped away or bloodstream delivery approaches that risk organ damage, the spray-mist device pushed the antibiotics through the skin to successfully treat the infection.

The team believes the spray-mist device might, pending U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, be used in challenging wound care settings.

"Whether it's people with diabetic foot ulcers or soldiers hurt in battle, we wanted to come up with a new approach to treat these severely infected wounds in a more targeted way," the researchers said. "This can be a game-changing therapy for treating those with severely infected wounds."

An article detailing the device, “Preventing Nephrotoxicity of Vancomycin and Attenuating Deep Tissue Infections by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus via Needle-Free Drug Delivery by the Droplette Micromist Technology Device,” appears in the journal Military Medicine.