Over the past two decades, antibiotic resistance in many pathogens, including those involved in hospital-acquired diseases, has been on the rise. In 2016, Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization, called this resistance “a global crisis, now recognized as one of the most important health threats”.

Staphylococcus epidermidis strains are among the most common bacteria involved in human infections. S. epidermidis is generally the most important cause of infection, and the second most common cause of medical device infections.

These bacteria are able to accumulate in a hydrophobic biofilm that adheres to surfaces such as medical devices. Often these infections become chronic as the immune system is unable to rid itself of these microorganisms.

Given the difficulties encountered by conventional antibiotics in treating certain infections, particularly those caused by biofilms, there is an urgent need to develop new therapies to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Nitric oxide has bactericidal properties and is described as being able to induce the dispersion of bacterial biofilms.

Nitrosyl-based ruthenium complexes are therefore potential antimicrobial agents.

The controlled release of the bactericidal agent by light makes it possible to imagine new targeted and controlled therapies.