• Monica Bortolin, Elena De Vecchi, Carlo Luca Romanò, Marco Toscano, Roberto Mattina, and Lorenzo Drago.
• Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, Milan, Italy.
• J. Antimicrob. Chemother. 2016 Jan 1; 71 (1): 123-7.

ObjectivesThe treatment of bone and joint infections is challenging due to the presence of bacterial biofilm and the increasing emergence of multiresistant strains. BAG-S53P4 is a bone substitute that is characterized by osteoconductive and antimicrobial properties. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of BAG-S53P4 against biofilm produced in vitro by multiresistant bacterial strains.MethodsMultiresistant Staphylococcus epidermidis, Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from bone and joint infections were used in this study. Titanium discs covered by bacterial biofilm were incubated with BAG-S53P4 or inert glass as a control. The amount of biofilm on each titanium disc was evaluated after 48 h of incubation by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy.ResultsSignificantly lower total biomass volumes were observed for all strains after treatment with BAG-S53P4 when compared with controls. Moreover, the percentage of dead cells was significantly higher in treated samples than in controls for all the tested strains.ConclusionsBAG-S53P4 is able to reduce the biofilm produced by multiresistant S. epidermidis, A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae on titanium substrates in vitro, probably by interfering with cell viability. Owing to its osteoconductive, antibacterial and antibiofilm properties, the use of BAG-S53P4 may be a successful strategy for the treatment of bone and prosthetic joint infections.© The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

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