Novel anti-microbial metallic surfaces for infection control

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Overview:Worldwide antibiotic use rose by 40% between 2000 and 2010, which combined with international travel and migration has allowed antimicrobial resistant pathogens to spread. There is a global shortage of effective antimicrobial agents, and for some infections there are now no treatments. The UK government's Review on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) has estimated that by 2050, 10 million people a year will die from AMR infections. The impact of AMR will not be seen only in terms of morbidity and mortality but also in the economy with an approximation that if no new antimicrobial treatments are found then by 2050 the world economy will have lost 7% of its GDP, $100.2 trillion. Currently every year in Europe 33,000 people die from infections they have caught whilst in hospital. Infectious diseases are a significant health and economic burden in the UK also, accounting for 7% of deaths and annual costs of £30bn. The shortage of effective antimicrobial treatments has been compounded by the lack of novel agents in development and a lack of alternative strategies to reduce microbial spread. New ways of preventing the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria especially amongst vulnerable populations, such as those in the healthcare system could reduce the number of healthcare associated infections and reduce antibiotic usage. The sponsor company in collaboration with Swansea University will work to identify effective nano reservoir systems, show the effectiveness at reducing or preventing microbial growth on the surface, and prove the technology can create a reduction in antibiotic resistant bacteria on surfaces. The surfaces need to be highly durable and not cause a reaction to humans upon touch, due to the high usage in a hospital environment.The Research Engineer will focus on investigating the properties of the nano reservoir structures and to assess their efficacy against antibiotic resistant bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) by using antibiotic susceptibility methods. Project Aims:1. Develop novel nano reservoirs that can be combined effectively with a range of anti-microbial agents.2. Determine the most effective coating technique to allow optimal release of antimicrobial agents. 3. To determine whether a range of clinically relevant antibiotic sensitive and antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria are inhibited by novel surfaces/systems.4. To establish which surface/system has the broadest range of activity.5. To ascertain how the duration of exposure impacts on the efficacy of the surface/system under consideration.Predicted outcomes:- Knowledge about the antimicrobial activity and efficacy of their novel surfaces.- Identify the best material combinations for incorporation into infection control products.- Efficacy of material release mechanisms: stochastic/natural, triggered and directed.- Prototype deployment.- Paper publication.