Abstract
Infection rates following arthroplasty surgery are between 1–4%, with higher rates in revision surgery. The associated costs of treating infected arthroplasty cases are considerable, with significantly worse functional outcomes reported. New methods of infection prevention are required. HINS-light is a novel blue light inactivation technology which kills bacteria through a photodynamic process. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of HINS-light for the inactivation of bacteria isolated from infected arthroplasty cases.
Specimens from hip and knee arthroplasty infections are routinely collected to identify causative organisms. This study tested a range of these isolates for sensitivity to HINS-light. During testing, bacterial suspensions were exposed to increasing doses of HINS-light of (123 mW/cm2 irradiance). Non-light exposed control samples were also set-up. Bacterial samples were then plated onto agar plates and incubated at 37°C for 24 hours before enumeration.
Complete inactivation (greater than a 4-log reduction) was achieved for all of the clinical isolates from infected arthroplasty cases. The typical inactivation curve showed a slow initial reaction followed by a period of rapid inactivation. The doses of HINS-light exposure required ranged from 118–2214 J/cm2 respectively. Gram-positive bacteria were generally found to be more susceptible than Gram-negative.
This study has demonstrated that HINS-light successfully inactivated all clinical isolates from infected arthroplasty cases. As HINS-light utilises visible-light wavelengths it can be safely used in the presence of patients and staff. This unique feature could lead to possible applications such as use as an infection prevention tool during surgery and post-operative dressing changes.
