Investigation of the Effects of Engineered Surface Texture on the Formation of Biofilms Leading to Periprosthetic Joint Infection

It has been identified by many studies [1] and highlighted by the National Joint Registry of England and Wales [2] that the greatest threat to success of periprosthetic joint replacements is failure due to infection. Despite efforts over the last twenty years or so to combat this through the following and monitoring of best surgical and pre-surgical practice and the introduction of new drugs and therapies the rate of failure attributable to infection has remained stubbornly unmoved. This project will attempt to investigate how engineered surfaces can affect the microbiology of the formation and growth of biofilms that lead to infection in such cases.