• Scientists have found that an unusual approach of removing antibodies from the blood stream could reduce chronic infections, an advance that may help humans in the fight against drug resistant superbugs.
• Researchers from the University of Birmingham and Newcastle University in the U.K. identified two patients with bronchiectasis who suffered with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections that were resistant to many antibiotics.

About Bronchiectasis:

• Bronchiectasis is a disease that leads to permanent enlargement of the airways in the lung.
• Symptoms are debilitating for patients, and typically include a chronic cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, and chest pain. Bronchiectasis often affects patients beyond the age at which lung transplantation is possible.

Like kidney dialysis

• Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections commonly occur in patients suffering from bronchiectasis.
• A process known as plasmapheresis that is somewhat like kidney dialysis.
• “The plasmapheresis involved the removal, treatment, and return of blood plasma from circulation, and was done five times in a week in order to remove antibody from the patients.
• This treatment restored the ability for the patients’ blood to kill their infecting Pseudomonas.

Source: The Hindu