Biomaterial-Related Surgical Site Infection: Anti-infectious Metal Coating on Biomaterials

Artificial biomaterials show disadvantages in terms of local bacterial infection and carry a risk of extremely refractory implant-related surgical site infections (SSIs). Pathogenic bacteria, which are commonly staphylococci, form a biofilm on the surface of biomaterial and acquire increased resistance to biological immune mechanisms and antibiotics. The economic burden of treatments for only postoperative prosthetic hip or knee infection (prosthetic joint infection, PJI) in the United States is anticipated to reach $1.6 billion by 2020. Inorganic antibacterial materials using silver, antibiotic agents, and iodine (disinfectant) as well as titanium dioxide (TiO2) are the focus of research into countermeasures against implant-related SSI. The antibacterial activity of TiO2 is not species-specific, does not induce drug-resistant strains, and does not prevent osteogenesis. An understanding of the risks of bacterial infection with biomaterials is crucial in regenerative medicine. The Kenzan method is expected to be superior for preventing implant-related infection in regenerative medicine.