Scientists have developed an antibacterial gel that can kill resistant hospital bugs like Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Staphylocci and E.coli.

The gel has the ability to break down biofilms, a thick jell-like coating that causes these bacteria to be highly resistant to therapies. This does not affect living healthy cell, researchers noted.

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Gary Laverty from Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland said when bacteria attach to surfaces, including medical implants, they produce biofilm which is almost impossible to penetrate using antibiotics.

Bacteria deep within this protective layer becomes resistant because they remain unexposed to therapies, he explained.

They can grow and thrive on surfaces and become resistant to treatment, he added.

He said that doctors have to remove medical implants following an infection, a result that leads to further pain and discomfort for the patient.

Laverty claims that the gel can prevent this because the gel contains a unique substance that kills even the most resistant form of hospital superbug.

This unique substance consists of peptides that serve as the building blocks of natural protein. It's the same ingredient used to form human tissue.

Molecules of this substance are slightly modified in the laboratory allowing them to form gels that can rapidly kill bacteria, he added.

Scientist from Queen's University collaborated with those from Brandeis University at Waltham, USA to conduct this research.

They plan to publish the results of their study in the journal Biomacromolecules, published by the American Chemical Society, next month.

Scientists are also going to talk about this development at UK PharmSci: The Science of Medicine conference at the University of Hertfordshire on September 8.