Preoperative vaccine could prevent orthopedic device infections

Editor's Note

A novel preoperative vaccine using a biodegradable scaffold system has proved effective in a mouse model to prevent infection associated with orthopedic devices. The investigators noted this vaccine approach could help prevent surgical site infection in patients undergoing joint replacement surgery, according to a December 1 news release on research published in PNAS by researchers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Previous vaccination testing targeted to prevent SSI with orthopedic devices using conventional vaccine technology in which antigens were injected in a liquid suspension and allowed to dissipate in the subcutaneous or muscular tissues have failed in preclinical studies and clinical trials, per the news release. So, investigators tested an alternative strategy using a biomaterial-based vaccine consisting of a biodegradable scaffold system to increase vaccine efficacy. The injectable scaffold system demonstrated improved cell-mediated immunity and decreased bacterial burden in a mouse model of orthopedic device infection against different clinically relevant strains of S. aureus, according to the study findings.

The investigators concluded that when compared to bolus vaccination, the scaffold vaccination elicited a more robust immune response in the mice studied. Specifically, it generated a local immune response that created a nodule at the site of scaffold injection that was larger than scaffold without antigen.

Based on the findings, the investigators suggested that this alternate vaccination strategy may be more broadly applicable against different strains and using different antigens. The next step will be to work toward clinical translation, which they said could drive interest toward developing new vaccine platforms to tackle targets where conventional vaccination has failed.