Cure to treat medical device related infections underway
A cure is being developed for many difficult-to-treat medical device related infections, thanks to Monash Institute of Medical Engineering (MIME) project grant support.
Medical device-related infections have long been a problem for already vulnerable patients.
Biofilms (i.e. communities of microorganisms like bacteria, protozoa, algae, fungi) are the main cause of many medical device related infections. Treatment is extremely difficult as they do not respond to conventional antimicrobial agents.
Until now.
Lead researchers, Dr Yue Qu from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University and Professor David McGiffin, Senior Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Alfred Health, teamed up with Associate Professor Timothy Scott and Professor John Forsythe from the Faculty of Engineering at Monash University to develop a novel platform which will eradicate infections that may occur when implanted medical devices are used, such as prosthetic joints and ventricular assist devices, to provide essential support for failing organs.
“We have been waiting decades for an effective therapy that can completely cure biofilm-associated medical device infections without the surgical removal of the infected implant, that is not only risky but expensive,” said Dr Qu and Professor McGiffin.
“We are proud to have invented a novel local antibiotic delivery platform that allows for the controlled release of specific antibiotic combinations which have the potential to effectively kill biofilm. Such a system, if successfully developed and translated, will be able to achieve a complete cure for many difficult-to-treat medical device related infections,” said Dr Qu and Professor McGiffin.
This project was one of six awarded Monash Institute of Medial Engineering (MIME) Invent Research Support grant support in late 2024.
“The MIME Invent Research Support Grant is vital for our research. It provides financial support, expert assistance for our patent applications and future grant applications and allows our multidisciplinary team to formalise and deepen our collaboration,” said Dr Qu and Professor McGiffin.
Next steps for the project include testing antibiotic combinations to combat staphylococcal biofilm.
Watch this space for further developments.
For more information on MIME Invent Research Support grant support visit: https://www.monash.edu/mime/programs/invent-research-support.
This project is currently involved in the MIME MedTech Commercialisation Advancement Program (MCAP).