Possible application of bacteriophage cocktails in anti-bacterial absorbable sutures to prevent SSIs

Abstract

Surgical site infections occur in 2-4% of patients post-surgery, and remain a leading cause of
morbidity and mortality. Mainly caused by bacteria, SSIs most commonly follow a course of treatment
comprising of antibiotics and steroids to treat the infection and reduce inflammation respectively. Moreover,
the growing use of antibiotics has led to an increase in antibiotic resistance. Some estimates predict that drug
resistant infections will be the leading cause of death by 2050. This also means that the incidence of drugresistant
SSIs
will
also
go
up.
These
changing
dynamics
might
force
us
to
change
how
we
approach
SSIs.
We

would
need
to
look
for
alternatives
to
antibiotics.

This
paper
aims
to
explore
the
development
of
sutures
that

will

prevent the proliferation of the most common infection-causing bacteria on and around the post-op
wound.