ISTANBUL

Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet claimed a potential breakthrough in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, local media reported on Monday.

In a newly published study, the team demonstrated that combining antibiotics with an enzyme called endolysin successfully eliminated infections caused by penicillin-resistant pneumococcal bacteria in mice, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported.

The animals, which had developed meningitis, recovered fully without showing symptoms.

“The animals that received the treatment survived without any symptoms – it felt absolutely fantastic,” said Federico Iovino, associate professor of medical microbiology at Karolinska Institutet.

Bacteria resistant to existing antibiotics are becoming increasingly common in Sweden and worldwide, making it harder to treat illnesses such as pneumonia and meningitis.

“In 20 to 30 years, this could be the leading cause of death globally – more than cancer,” Iovino warned.

The study found that endolysin, which originates from bacteriophages – viruses that kill bacteria – allowed the antibiotics to work again against resistant strains.

Researchers also discovered that the enzyme reached the brain within hours in mice, raising hopes for future treatment of bacterial meningitis in humans.

“Patients need effective treatment within a maximum of two days; otherwise, severe neurological complications or even death can occur,” Iovino explained.

The next phase of the research will examine endolysin’s impact on various other types of resistant bacteria.