Efficacy of Bone Cement Treated with Antibiotics and Silver Nanoparticles on Staphylococcal Biofilms Occurring in Orthopaedic Implant Associated Infections

Abstract

Prostheses or medical implant related biofilm infections pose a major threat to hospital patients. The extensive use of medical implants is a significant risk factor of biofilm infections. Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are dominant cause of prostheses owing to its ability to form biofilms. A biofilm is a multi-cellular construction which affords protection to the cells. Biofilm cells are more resistant to antibiotics than the planktonic cells. As treatment of these infections is tedious due to the biofilms, a prophylactic measure presents an attractive alternative. We hypothesized that bone cement devices with biomaterial coatings will prevent biofilms. Biofilm formation on bone cement was inhibited when bone cement beads impregnated either with antibiotics or silver nanoparticles. However, maximum inhibition was observed when Nanosilver and antibiotics were combined. Our study suggests that implant material pre coated with silver nanoparticles in combination with antibiotics may prevent or delay the biofilm formation reducing the morbidity. newline