Biomaterials Related Infection Group

Dr Bayston has stepped down as Honorary Secretary of the British Orthopaedic Research Society. He has now been elected President of the Society for Research into Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida. He continues as Chair of the BSAC Working Group on Neurosurgical Infection, and Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee of the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

Dr Bayston has wide research interests. He is working on the pathogenesis of BRI, involving quantitative determination of bacterial adherence and biofilm development on various materials and in different physiological conditions; treatment of biofilm infections; and particularly their prevention. Examples of recent research are the role of SCV (biofilm phenotype) in biofilm infections and treatment failure; the role of infection in "aseptic" loosening of hip implants; and virulence factors in Propionibacterium acnes involved in infections in arthroplasty and spinal instrumentation.

The role of biofilm–forming bacteria was recently investigated in both ureteric stent encrustation (with Professor David Grant and Dr Sarah Waters) and Otitis Media with Effusion (with Professor John Birchall). Prevention of BRI is a major interest and depends on several approaches, the main one being antimicrobial biomaterials. Dr Bayston's strong interest in antimicrobial biomaterials has resulted in a patented process which has been used to develop a clinically successful "anti - infective" hydrocephalus shunt, with over 125,000 recipients worldwide, and further developments are under way to address infection in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, peritoneal and haemodialysis, renal medicine and in patients using central venous access devices. A second patent in this area has now been filed.

There is close collaboration with Professor Steve Howdle's group in Chemistry on development of nanoparticulate metal impregnation of medical polymers using supercritical carbon dioxide, with Professor Kevin Shakesheff’s group in Pharmacy on biodegradable antimicrobial delivery systems; with urologists and nephrologists in Nottingham and Derby; and Dr Mark Luciano (Cleveland Clinic USA) on models of neurosurgical shunting. We have an MRC Doctoral Training student with Professor Howdle, and an MRC Developmental Pathway grant with Miss Brigitte Scammell (PI) and Professor Shakesheff.

The research group therefore enjoys all of the benefits of being part of an intellectually heterogeneous Division as well as of three of the University's specialist Institutes. BRIG has interests in academic research into clinical infection in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, renal medicine and other disciplines in which implantable devices are used. With access to all clinical specialties in three major hospitals with a total of approximately 3000 beds, there are attractive opportunities for research. Clinical material is available through the diagnostic laboratory facilities which serve these hospitals. The Group is based in the newly refurbished laboratories in Queen’s Medical Centre, and has close contacts with the Nottingham City Hospital, Derby Royal Hospital and the main University Park Campus, including frequent research meetings and joint seminars.

The Group hosts students for MSc Clinical / Molecular Medical Microbiology projects, and BMedSci projects.

Prizes awarded to staff/students

Rob Chessman, awarded First Prize in the School of Clinical Sciences BMedSci presentations and Junior Presenter’s Prize at the ORS meeting, 2011.

Mat Daniel, awarded the Entex Short Paper Prize at the Otology / Royal Society of Medicine, 2011.

Lauren Glen, awarded President’s Prize for best poster, on “The use of nitroblue tetrazolium to detect bacterial viability as a method of assessing efficacy of surgical skin preparation”, at the Society for Academic and Research Surgery, Dublin, 2011.

Brian Richards, awarded Runner–Up Prize for his poster on “Prevention of Infection with Antimicrobial Spacers” at the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Conference 2010. 

Mat Daniel, awarded First Prize for oral presentation (Clinical Section) on biofilms in otitis media with effusion. Faculty Research Forum 2010.

Leanne Fisher, awarded rst Prize for oral presentation (Clinical Section) on antimicrobial urinary catheters. Faculty Research Forum 2009.

Paul Dhillon, awarded 2nd Prize for a Poster on biodegradable bone substitutes, Faculty Research Forum 2009.

Litza Vera, Travel Award for best poster on antimicrobial resistance, Federation of Infection Societies Scientific Meeting, Cardiff 2008.

Collaborations

The group has active collaborations with clinicians and scientists within the University of Nottingham, especially with the School of Chemistry, the School of Pharmacy, the School of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering and the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. There are additional links and consultancies with Industry.