"Smart surfaces" to address infection and antimicrobial resistance

Programme

4pm - Outline of key findings from co-authors Dr Gerald Larrouy-Maumus and Dr Jon Otter followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.

5pm - Drinks reception and poster presentations.

About the speakers

Dr Gerald Larrouy-Maumus is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Life Sciences at Imperial College London.

Dr Jon Otter is a senior manager for the Infection Prevention and Control Service. He is also an Honorary Senior Lecturer in the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit at Imperial College London.

Abstract

With the increasing global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a group of researchers at Imperial College London are investigating new solutions to combat this ever growing threat. One solution includes antimicrobial surfaces - surfaces that have the potential to reduce microbial attachment, have an antimicrobial effect, and disrupt the habitat of microbes. The Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering (IMSE) has brought together world leading experts within Imperial College London in bio-mechanical engineering, surface engineering, medicine, infection control, and microbiology to investigate the potential for these surfaces to tackle AMR in clinical settings. This Briefing Paper will for the first time incorporate leading research within these disciplines to suggest possible new advanced solutions for a range of applications.

Along with combatting AMR, further application areas of antimicrobial surfaces include:

1. Improving the design of medical devices in order to reduce the risk of infection.
2. Reducing the risk of infection related to surgically implanted prosthesis (such as hip and knee joints).
3. Transforming the clinical environment to have touch surfaces with antimicrobial properties (e.g. coated bed rails) particularly for the prevention of infection in vulnerable patient groups.
4. To make the hospital water system less prone to contamination with bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Legionella.
5. Such surfaces should be developed with low and middle-income settings in mind, where these surfaces could mitigate the impact of some challenges (such as lack of resources).

About IMSE

The Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering (IMSE) is one of Imperial College London's Global Institutes, drawing on the strength of its four faculties to address some of the grand challenges facing the world today. The Institute's activities are focused on tackling problems where molecular innovation plays an important role.

The Highlight Seminar Series brings eminent speakers from across the globe to Imperial to increase awareness of areas where molecular science and engineering can make a valuable contribution and to promote exchanges with academic and industrial centres of excellence.