MRSA is a potentially deadly bacteria

Researchers at Strathclyde University have developed wound dressings and stitches containing waterborne viruses which kill the bacteria.

These have been created to target the three most common strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which account for 95% of hospital infections in the UK.

MRSA is a potentially deadly bacteria which affects an estimated 10,000 patients every year in Scotland.

What we are able to do is put these bacteriophage into the materials that make stitches or wound dressings Dr Mike Mattey Strathclyde University

It has become resistant to most antibiotics because of their overuse in hospitals.

MRSA is particuarly prevalent in older, vulnerable patients and those undergoing invasive surgery.

Scientists at Strathclyde University's Department of Bioscience aim to control MRSA by destoying the bacteria within the wounds where it thrives.

Bioscience lecturer Dr Mike Mattey said: "What we are using are the natural enemies of bacteria, the diseases that bacteria actually get in nature. They are called bacteriophage.

"What we are able to do is put these bacteriophage into the materials that make stitches or wound dressings.

Human trials

"When you get a wound stitched up the bacteriophage are present and stable in the wound, and stay there until they are needed."

It has taken the team four years to get to their current stage.