Latest news with #PseudomonasAeruginosa
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Urgent nationwide recall for Topo Chico Mineral Water that could cause blood infections: 'Do not drink'
A popular brand of mineral water has been urgently recalled after bottles were found contaminated with a dangerous bacteria that could lead to blood infections. The Coca-Cola Company pulled select 18 packs of its Topo Chico Mineral Water from store shelves in five US states, warning customers not to drink the affected product under any circumstances. The recall was triggered on June 2 after routine testing detected traces of the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is particularly dangerous for individuals with compromised immune systems or chronic conditions. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is commonly found in water and soil and is capable of surviving in harsh environments. In bottled water, contamination can occur if the seal is compromised or if sanitation fails during the production process. The affected product was sold at Costco locations in Texas and Louisiana between May 20 and May 29. Coca-Cola confirmed that the same batch was also distributed to stores in Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico. The recalled water comes in 16.9 oz (500 mL) glass bottles bundled in 18-packs, marked with lot code #13A2541 on the neck of the bottle. Costco notified members who purchased the product, stating that the health risk to the general public is 'very low.' However, individuals with weakened immune systems may experience minor to serious health effects if they consume the contaminated water. Coca-Cola said the contamination was discovered during a routine quality control check. No illnesses have been reported so far. Customers who bought the recalled product are urged to return it immediately for a full refund or toss them in the trash. 'The safety and quality of the products we offer our consumers is our top priority,' Coca-Cola said in a written statement. Health officials warn that the bacteria can enter the body through ingestion or open wounds, potentially causing urinary tract infections, lung infections, or sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection. Pseudomonas infections primarily affect people with weakened immune systems and pose a heightened threat to patients with chronic lung diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The strain's resistance to many common antibiotics makes infections harder to treat and slower to heal. In hospitals, it is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections. Mineral water is typically drawn from underground sources and can contain trace levels of natural microbes. However, it is supposed to undergo sterilization during bottling to ensure safety. The recall suggests there may have been a lapse in the production or packaging process that allowed the bacteria to survive. The CDC urges anyone who feels unwell after drinking the recalled water to contact a healthcare provider immediately, especially individuals with pre-existing health conditions or compromised immunity. Topo Chico, a brand with more than 100 years of history and a devoted following in the US, was acquired by Coca-Cola in 2017 as part of the company's push into the premium sparkling water market. This isn't the first time Topo Chico has faced scrutiny over safety concerns. In 2020, Consumer Reports revealed that Topo Chico contained the highest levels of PFAS also known as 'forever chemicals' among 47 bottled water brands tested. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals that do not break down in the environment or the human body. They have been linked to cancer, liver damage, fertility issues, and hormonal disruption. The levels of PFAS found in Topo Chico exceeded the 5 parts per trillion (ppt) limit recommended by the International Bottled Water Association, and the 10 ppt combined limit for multiple PFAS compounds. Some scientists advocate for even stricter limits, suggesting that exposure should not exceed 1 ppt. Although the current recall involves bacterial contamination rather than chemical exposure, Topo Chico's past PFAS issues could raise additional concerns about the brand's overall quality control and commitment to long-term health safety. Consumers concerned about bottled water safety are advised to monitor recall alerts, consult third-party lab testing reports, and choose brands that disclose their purification methods and PFAS testing results. For more information or questions regarding the recall, consumers can contact Coca-Cola directly at 1-800-GET-COKE.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists Sound Alarm Over Plastic-Eating Bacteria in Hospitals
A powerful bacterial superbug is making headlines for its unique and alarming ability to feed on plastic found in medical devices. Researchers at Brunel University of London have discovered that Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a drug-resistant bacterium linked to over 559,000 deaths globally each year, has developed a disturbing survival mechanism. The bug not only resists treatment but can also 'digest' polycaprolactone, a type of plastic used in common medical tools like sutures, catheters, implants, and wound dressings. According to a groundbreaking study published in Cell, this adaptation helps the bacterium cling to hospital environments, creating tougher biofilms that resist antibiotics and standard cleaning protocols. 'Plastics, including plastic surfaces, could potentially be food for these bacteria,' said study leader Ronan McCarthy. 'Pathogens with this ability could survive for longer in the hospital environment.' The discovery is a chilling reminder that pathogens are constantly evolving to thrive in unexpected ways. In this case, Pseudomonas aeruginosa isn't just surviving—it's actively undermining medical devices designed to save lives. The plastic-eating enzyme it produces could weaken critical tools like ventilators, drug-delivery patches, and surgical meshes, making them less effective and harder to sterilize. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) already lists P. aeruginosa as a major contributor to infections such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, particularly among patients with compromised immune systems or those recovering from more research is needed to determine the full extent of this superbug's capabilities, SciTech Daily reported that McCarthy emphasized the urgency: 'Plastic is everywhere in modern medicine, and it turns out some pathogens have adapted to degrade it. We need to understand the impact this has on patient safety.' With its ability to withstand antibiotics and thrive on plastics in hospitals, Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a dual threat. One that could reshape infection control strategies and force a rethink of how medical tools are designed and Sound Alarm Over Plastic-Eating Bacteria in Hospitals first appeared on Men's Journal on May 26, 2025
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital superbug can feed on medical plastic, first-of-its-kind study reveals
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A superbug that commonly causes infections in hospitals can feed on plastic used for medical interventions, potentially making it even more dangerous, a world-first study has found. The bug is a bacteria species called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is commonly found in hospital environments and can cause potentially deadly infections in the lungs, urinary tract and blood. Now, scientists have analyzed a strain of this bacteria from a hospital patient's wound, which revealed a surprising trick that could enable it to persist on surfaces and in patients for longer — its ability to break down the biodegradable plastics used in stints, sutures and implants. The researchers published their findings May 7 in the journal Cell Reports. "It means we need to reconsider how pathogens exist in the hospital environment," study lead author Ronan McCarthy, a professor in biomedical sciences at Brunel University of London, said in a statement. "Plastics, including plastic surfaces, could potentially be food for these bacteria. Pathogens with this ability could survive for longer in the hospital environment. It also means that any medical device or treatment that contains plastic could be susceptible to degradation by bacteria." The team's laboratory study raises the need for further research to better understand how this plastic-eating ability affects the bug in realistic hospital environments, in which specific cleaning protocols are in place to help prevent exposing patients and medical instruments to bacteria. P. aeruginosa is thought to have rapidly evolved over the last 200 years to infect humans as they began living in densely populated areas, especially among those with weakened lungs due to air pollution. Related: Dangerous 'superbugs' are a growing threat, and antibiotics can't stop their rise. What can? Since then, many strains of the bug have acquired resistance to a wide variety of antibiotics. These resistant microbes can contaminate catheters and ventilation devices, making P. aeruginosa a common cause of hospital-acquired infections, especially among vulnerable patients. P. aeruginosa is tied to roughly 559,000 deaths per year globally, the majority of which are associated with antimicrobial resistance. Yet how the bacteria can thrive in ostensibly sterile hospital environments has remained unclear. To investigate, the researchers took a swab from a patient's wound in a British hospital and analyzed it, which revealed the bug can make an enzyme named Pap1. This enzyme is able to break down the plastic polycaprolactone (PCL) — commonly used in sutures, wound dressings, surgical meshes and other medical equipment — and release the plastic's carbon, which P. aeruginosa can then feed on. To test whether this enzyme is really responsible for breaking down plastic, the scientists inserted the gene that codes for Pap1 into Escherichia coli bacteria, and found that when that bacteria expressed the enzyme, it too was able to break down PCL. The team further confirmed the enzyme's plastic-eating role when they deleted the gene that codes for it in a P. aeruginosa variant, finding that the microbe was no longer able to dissolve the plastic. RELATED STORIES —How fast can antibiotic resistance evolve? —AI could identify the next superbug-fighting drug —Scientists have found a secret 'switch' that lets bacteria resist antibiotics — and it's been evading lab tests for decades The bug's plastic-chewing power doesn't just seem to be granting it a food source: It is also making it more dangerously resistant to treatment. This is because the bacteria uses plastic fragments to form hardier biofilms — structures with protective coatings that shield superbugs from antibiotics — the researchers found. The scientists also identified similar enzymes in other bacteria, meaning that other widely used medical plastics could be providing sustenance and improved resilience to additional superbugs, possibly contributing to hospital-acquired infections. To follow up on this, the researchers have called for urgent research on the prevalence of the plastic-eating enzymes among other pathogens, and for experts to reconsider the plastics they use in medical settings, and the ways that they monitor hospital environments. "Plastic is everywhere in modern medicine, and it turns out some pathogens have adapted to degrade it," McCarthy said. "We need to understand the impact this has on patient safety." This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.
