Diagnosis of prosthetic infections in orthopedics with innovative methods based on the use of bacteriophages
Crucial for orthopedics is a reliable and fast diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection in order to proceed with the most appropriate therapy. Starting from promising preliminary results on an innovative new dosage mediated by bacteriophages (New Microbiol. 40 (3), 2017, ISN 1121-7138), the project aims to design a diagnostic test for bacterial detection within the fluid of sonication from an infected prosthetic articulation, by using an optimized suspension of specific phages. This test will be rapid, sensitive and specific to detect only live bacteria. It will be validated on a clinical study on patients with revision arthroprosthesis (survey already approved by the Ethics Committee). In addition, the project aims to significantly reduce the time required to identify and define the most correct diagnosis.
The use of antibiotics will be made more effective, or eliminated, in order to reduce microbial resistance, a significant problem as reported in the specific European Program "EU One Health Action Plan against Anti Microbial Resistance ". Furthermore, the project shows the possible use of bacteriophages in therapy, as currently occurs in the ex-USSR. The project will also aim to create a library of phages in which the bacteriophages can be supplied on request, thus creating in this area the first European center on phages.