Prevention of pacemaker infections with perioperative antimicrobial treatment: an in vitro study

Georg Marsch1, Bakr Mashaqi, Karin Burgwitz

  • 1Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg Street 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.

Abstract

Insights

Nebacetin effectively prevents bacterial adhesion to pacemaker casings without harming human cells. This antibiotic offers a safe and efficient option for coating cardiac-implantable electrophysiological devices (CIEDs).

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Infectious Disease Research
  • Medical Device Engineering

Background:

  • Pacemaker casings are susceptible to bacterial adhesion, increasing the risk of device-related infections.
  • Antimicrobial coatings on cardiac-implantable electrophysiological devices (CIEDs) are crucial for preventing infections.
  • Evaluating the biocompatibility and efficacy of various antimicrobial agents is essential for CIED development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the in vitro biocompatibility and efficacy of antiseptic and antibiotic treatments for pacemaker casings.
  • To assess the prevention of bacterial adhesion of common pathogens to CIEDs.
  • To identify optimal antimicrobial agents for CIED impregnation.

Main Methods:

  • Pacemaker casing material (titanium platelets) was impregnated with antiseptics (povidone-iodine, octenidine dihydrochloride) or antibiotics (vancomycin, daptomycin, cefuroxime, Tazobac, nebacetin).
  • Impregnated materials were challenged with Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli over 24 hours.
  • Bacterial adherence was quantified using colony-forming units and confocal laser scanning electron microscopy; biocompatibility was assessed via human cell cultures (fibroblasts, myoblasts, endothelial cells) using WST-8 assay.

Main Results:

  • Antimicrobial coatings significantly reduced bacterial adhesion to pacemaker casings.
  • Different antimicrobial impregnations exhibited varying levels of efficacy and toxicity.
  • Nebacetin demonstrated potent in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Conclusions:

  • Nebacetin exhibited the most favorable efficacy-to-toxicity ratio among the tested agents.
  • Nebacetin effectively inhibited bacterial adhesion without compromising human cell viability.
  • Nebacetin is a promising, safe, and effective candidate for impregnating CIEDs.

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