Microorganisms' ability to adhere and form a biofilm differs among biomaterials; however, clinical data are conflicting. Microbial adherence and biofilm formation on different biomaterials of explanted joint prosthesis components were investigated. Consecutive patients with explanted joint prosthesis were prospectively included. The bacterial load dislodged from retrieved prosthetic components was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively in sonication-fluid cultures. For comparison between groups, one-way ANOVA and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used. A total of 112 components originating from 58 knee and 54 hip prostheses were retrieved from 40 patients. Components were made of titanium alloy in 42 cases, cobalt-chromium alloy in 38 and polyethylene in 32. Bacteria in sonication-fluid cultures grew in all polyethylene components (100 %). Larger bacterial counts were found on polyethylene than on titanium (p < 0.013) or cobalt-chromium alloy (p = 0.028). Coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus species were most commonly isolated. In conclusion, polyethylene showed larger biofilm burden than metal alloys, indicating their higher microbial adhesion affinity in vivo. Moreover, bacterial counts were larger after sonication of polyethylene liners than of metal alloys, suggesting intrinsic differences in the ability of microorganisms to form biofilms on various biomaterials. Polyethylene liners allowed the diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) in all investigated cases, suggesting that sonication of polyethylene liners rather than of the complete prosthesis was sufficient for pathogen detection in PJIs.

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Introduction. Urolithiasis is one of the most common pathologies in modern urology. This disease is registered in 10% of the population and is manifested by an annual increase. Despite all the effectiveness and safety of Ho:YAG, in recent years, the thulium laser has attracted more and more interest. At the moment, in the modern literature there is not enough information about thulium and holmium ureterolithotripsy. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness of thulium and holmium ureterolithotripsy. Material and Methods. Since from October 2018 to October 2019 in City Centre Endoscopic Urology and New Technologies Clinical Hospital of St. Luke; St. Petersburg, 420 patients underwent contact ureterolithotripsy with using of thulium (group Б) or holmium (group А) lasers for calculi localized in the ureter. Results. Patients in group B had an advantage in terms of such indicators as the time of surgery, the time of lithotripsy in the Dusting and Fragmentation modes for ureteral calculi of any localization compared with group A. The SFR level in the two groups was relatively identical. Patients in group B had a lower rate of retropulsion during lithotripsy compared to patients in group A. And also in group B there was no migration of calculus into the renal cavity system. Conclusion. Our data indicate the same level of stone free rate when using both thulium and holmium lasers in the dusting and fragmentation modes. However, there is a higher efficiency during ureterolithotripsy using a thulium laser compared to ureterolithotripsy using a holmium laser, regardless of the lithotripsy mode.

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