ECCOMAS 2024

Localised Antimicrobial Treatment for Implant Infection

  • Mandal, Parna (University of Glasgow)
  • Mottram, Nigel (University of Glasgow)
  • McGinty, Sean (University of Glasgow)

Please login to view abstract download link

In the realm of implant-associated infections, understanding and controlling biofilm formation is paramount. Surface-bound bacterial communities knows as biofilms, evolves through stages such as initial attachment, stabilisation through extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, and development of different bacterial phenotypes such as proliferative, persister and dead cells, and finally possible detachment . Single-species biofilms are typically associated with medical implant infection and treating these infections is challenging due to the biofilm’s resistance to antibiotics, compounded by issues like nutrient deficiency and low oxygen in deeper biofilm layers. Our study presents a mathematical model to understand how biofilms react to varying antibiotic doses and release rates at the implant-biofilm interface, aiming to refine targeted drug treatments. Our one-dimensional model for biofilm growth allows for controlled antibiotic release from polymer-free, nano-porous implant and includes different bacterial phenotypes, EPS, nutrient levels, biofilm water content and biofilm growth, providing a novel perspective in the design and development of biomedical implants to counteract infection. This model has already advanced our understanding of effective drug delivery, considering factors like nutrient availability, the development of bacterial phenotypes and both natural and antibiotic-induced bacterial mortality. Notably, as antibiotic doses increase, the density of proliferative bacteria decreases, and persister bacteria increases, similar to experimentally observed antibiotic resistance. Our next goal is to identify the optimum antibiotic administration method to eliminate both the infection and these resilient cells, preventing further implant infections which will improve patient outcomes through better-informed surgical practices and implant selections.