The use of antimicrobial treatments in agriculture is vital in protecting animal health and aiding the production of safe and nutritious food. However, previous overuse, and continued use of antibiotics in agriculture has been attributed to the rise in multi-drug resistance (MDR) bacteria, which can lead to ill-health and even death in humans if infected. MDR bacteria have been identified in large numbers of animals and raw food products, representing a major risk to public health and food system security. This is especially important in China and developing countries which rely heavily on animal products for nutrition and livelihoods, with chicken being the fastest growing protein source. GAMA Healthcare have developed an alternative antimicrobial treatment to conventional antibiotics by coupling a cancer medicine delivery system (microparticles) with a new class of short-lived antiseptic, which will be applied to reduce MDR bacteria in on chicken farms. The technology can be customised to meet the specific needs of the end-user, delivering a toxic payload to bacteria present within the animal and can be produced cheaply and safely, making it suitable for the agricultural/veterinary market.

Products derived from this project will enhance patient safety and aim to reduce the incidence of small surgical site infections and catheter related infections. Dealing with biofilm protected organisms is seen as an important step in improving clinical outcomes in a number of medical cases. Novel formulations proposed in this project potentially offer a significant step in this respect.