Periprosthetic
infection (PPI) is a devastating complication in
joint replacement surgery. On the background of an aging population, the number of
joint replacements and associated complications is expected to increase. The capability for biofilm formation and the increasing resistance of different microbes to
antibiotics have complicated the treatment of PPI, requiring the need for the development of alternative treatment options. The bactericidal effect of the naturally occurring amino alcohol
sphingosine has already been reported. In our study, we demonstrate the antimicrobial efficacy of
sphingosine on three different strains of biofilm producing Staphylococcus epidermidis, representing one of the most frequent microbes involved in PPI. In an in vitro analysis,
sphingosine's capability for prevention and treatment of biofilm-contamination on different common orthopedic implant surfaces was tested. Coating
titanium implant samples with
sphingosine not only prevented implant contamination but also revealed a significant reduction of biofilm formation on the implant surfaces by 99.942%. When testing the antimicrobial efficacy of
sphingosine on sessile biofilm-grown Staphylococcus epidermidis,
sphingosine solution was capable to eliminate 99.999% of the bacteria on the different implant surfaces, i.e.,
titanium, steel, and
polymethylmethacrylate. This study provides evidence on the antimicrobial efficacy of
sphingosine for both planktonic and sessile biofilm-grown Staphylococcus epidermidis on contaminated orthopedic implants.
Sphingosine may provide an effective and cheap treatment option for prevention and reduction of
infections in
joint replacement surgery. KEY MESSAGES: • Here we established a novel technology for prevention of implant colonization by
sphingosine-coating of orthopedic implant materials. •
Sphingosine-coating of orthopedic implants prevented bacterial colonization and significantly reduced biofilm formation on implant surfaces by 99.942%. • Moreover,
sphingosine solution was capable to eliminate 99.999% of sessile biofilm-grown Staphylococcus epidermidis on different orthopedic implant surfaces.