Determining the modes of action and application for antimicrobial mix metal complexes in the presence of biofilms.

Approximately 20% NHS inpatients have a catheter at any given time, with an estimated direct cost of £37 - 78M. Each hospital follows a standard procedure to catheter insertion, management, and removal to prevent microbial colonization; however, catheters are highly susceptible to biofilm formation leading to catheter associated-urinary tract infections, accounting for 80% of all hospital associated infections.

Managing biofilms requires a multifaceted approach, from an infection prevention perspective to reducing the probability of attachment to the surface and biofilm maturation; to addressing the patient's response and immune mechanisms. Often using a combination of antibiotics, with a variety of killing mechanisms, only reduces biofilms rather than eradicates, and other therapeutic practices are required.

These includes physical removal of the biofilm and surrounding matrix of extracellular substances. The presence of extracellular substances has been shown to significantly hinder the wound healing processes for example and induce heighten inflammatory responses resulting in localized tissue damage.

The project will assess the 'mode of action' of these antimicrobial technologies in the presence of biofilms when used in lubricant gels and/or topical creams associated with catheter usage. Using model systems developed at UoS, the project will further our knowledge on catheter-associated biofilms and provide information on next generation catheter design.