Keele, UK, 12 April 2022,– Biocomposites, an international medical devices company that engineers, manufactures and markets world leading products for use in infection management in bone and soft tissue, today announces the acceptance of two posters at the 32nd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) being held in Lisbon, Portugal on 23-26 April 2022. The company’s in-vitro research findings demonstrate the antimicrobial effectiveness of both STIMULAN® and genex® when mixed with antibiotics.
The first abstract demonstrates that STIMULAN® beads containing vancomycin and gentamicin were able to inhibit bacterial growth, when applied to tissue taken from diabetic foot infections, with zone of inhibition diameters ranging from 12-40mm.
The second abstract demonstrates the ability of genex® when mixed with combinations of vancomycin/gentamicin and vancomycin/tobramycin to prevent the formation of bacterial biofilms by MRSA, S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa for up to 7 days on orthopaedic implant materials.
Both studies were co-authored by Julie Fletcher from the University of Exeter whom Biocomposites first funded in 2017 through the Daphne Jackson Trust, the UK’s leading organisation and independent registered charity dedicated to realising the potential of returners to research careers following a career break.
Dr Julie Fletcher, Research Fellow, The University of Exeter, said: “This research highlights the potential to use STIMULAN to achieve high local concentrations of antibiotic within poorly vascularised tissue to inhibit bacterial growth at a wound site, with the possibility of facilitating clearance of bacterial infection and improving wound outcomes. The genex research shows the potential to use genex as a carrier of antibiotics to prevent the formation of bacterial biofilm for up to 7 days on orthopaedic implants.”
Michael Harris, Chief Executive Officer of Biocomposites, added: “By presenting this new data at this important annual congress, we are pleased to further support the vital research being carried out by leading scientists. STIMULAN and genex are valuable tools for a surgeon and together help over 65,000 patients every year.”
Details of the posters are listed below:
Poster 607: The effect of antibiotic loaded calcium sulfate beads on bacterial growth from infected diabetic food ulcer tissue – an in-vitro analysis
Authors: Julie Fletcher1, Rob Porter2, Sean Aiken2, Craig Delury3, Stephen Michell1
1 Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
2 Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, United Kingdom
3 Biocomposites Ltd, Technical Research, Keele, United Kingdom
Date & Time: 24 April, 12:00pm – 13:00pm WEST
Session: 9. Experimental microbiology, microbial pathogenesis & biofilm.
Poster Session 9c. Preclinical biofilm studies
Poster 612: In-vitro effect of antibiotic loaded bone void filler beads on the prevention of biofilm formation on implant surfaces
Authors: Julie Fletcher1, Stephen Michell1, Corin Liddle2, Christian Hacker2, Sean Aiken3, Rebecca Wilson-van Os3, Craig Delury3
1 Biosciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
2 Bioimaging Centre, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
3 Biocomposites Ltd, Technical Research, Keele, United Kingdom
Date & Time: 24 April, 12:00pm – 13:00pm WEST
Session: 9. Experimental microbiology, microbial pathogenesis & biofilm.
Poster Session 9c. Preclinical biofilm studies
STIMULAN® is the only calcium matrix antibiotic carrier approved to treat bacterial infection in surrounding soft tissue in Canada and for use in bone and soft tissue in EU, UK, and Saudi Arabia. STIMULAN® offers surgeons the flexibility to apply broad spectrum ‘off-the-shelf’ antibiotics at concentrations that will support their patient-specific treatment plans – dramatically improving patient outcomes and redefining standard of care.
genex® is a biphasic composite of exceptional purity that is specifically formulated to balance osteoconductive scaffold strength and persistence in the body to enable the optimal remodelling of bone architecture.