Biofilm composition as a predictive biomarker for PJI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of biofilm composition as a predictive biomarker for prosthetic joint infection
IRAS ID
261620
Contact name
Samuel Robson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Portsmouth Hospital NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) represents one of the most common reasons for failure among hip and knee prostheses, with an incidence of around 1-2%. Infection can occur early (within days of surgery) or late (over a year after surgery), and no specific early markers for infection onset exist. Given the significant costs to the NHS for corrective revision surgery, the added suffering and risk to patients from surgery, and the risk of enhancing antimicrobial resistance through the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, a more specific predictive test for early onset of infection is required.
Over 80% of human infection is estimated to be a result of biofilm formation. Biofilms are an accumulation of microorganisms (predominantly bacteria) on a surface, resulting in a functional community which provides antibiotic resistance and a beneficial environment for the growth of pathogenic species that would otherwise be removed by the body’s defences.
We aim to identify early predictive biomarkers for PJI based on assessment of the biofilm structure on implants removed during routine revision surgery, either as a result of PJI or due to aseptic causes such as mechanical failure. We will explore biofilm formation on hip joint prostheses using next generation sequencing (NGS) and 3D phase-contrast X-ray microscopy, and will compare bacterial diversity and biofilm structure between infected and non-infected samples to answer three main questions:
1) Can we accurately describe the characteristic microbiome of hip joint prosthetic biofilms?
2) Is there a distinct characteristic microbiome or biofilm structure associated with PJI?
3) Can we detect such characteristic biofilm members as biomarkers in simple blood tests?REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0358
Date of REC Opinion
21 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion