PRP as a New Approach to Prevent Infection: Preparation and <em>In vitro</em> Antimicrobial Properties of PRP

Abstract

Implant-associated infection is becoming more and more challenging to the healthcare industry worldwide due to increasing antibiotic resistance, transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria between animals and humans, and the high cost of treating infections.In this study, we disclose a new strategy that may be effective in preventing implant-associated infection based on the potential antimicrobial properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Due to its well-studied properties for promoting healing, PRP (a biological product) has been increasingly used for clinical applications including orthopaedic surgeries, periodontal and oral surgeries, maxillofacial surgeries, plastic surgeries, sports medicine, etc.PRP could be an advanced alternative to conventional antibiotic treatments in preventing implant-associated infections. The use of PRP may be advantageous compared to conventional antibiotic treatments since PRP is less likely to induce antibiotic resistance and PRP's antimicrobial and healing-promoting properties may have a synergistic effect on infection prevention. It is well known that pathogens and human cells are racing for implant surfaces, and PRP's properties of promoting healing could improve human cell attachment thereby reducing the odds for infection. In addition, PRP is inherently biocompatible, and safe and free from the risk of transmissible diseases.For our study, we have selected several clinical bacterial strains that are commonly found in orthopaedic infections and examined whether PRP has in vitro antimicrobial properties against these bacteria. We have prepared PRP using a twice centrifugation approach which allows the same platelet concentration to be obtained for all samples. We have achieved consistent antimicrobial findings and found that PRP has strong in vitro antimicrobial properties against bacteria like methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Group A Streptococcus, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Therefore, the use of PRP may have the potential to prevent infection and to reduce the need for costly post-operative treatment of implant-associated infections. Video LinkThe video component of this article can be found at

Platelet Derivatives in Regenerative Medicine: An Update

“…In surgery and during post-operative management, platelet-derived products have been used with standard treatment in attempt to prevent infection [69][70][71][72][73][74]. Antibacterial activity from plateletderived products is felt result from increased local concentration of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes and the effect of platelet antibacterial proteins (pAMP) [69][70][71][72][73][74].…”

Soft tissue expansion and cranioplasty: For which indications?

“…Moreover, the application of plasma-rich platelets (PRP) on the implant might help prevent infection because of its antibacterial properties (Li and Li, 2013), and its likely role in bone healing when associated with a hydroxyapatite material (El Backly et al, 2014).…”

An off-the-shelf plasma-based material to prevent pacemaker pocket infection

“…In distinction to materials derived from platelet concentrates, PBM was derived from plasma in its entirety. This may prove important, given that a number of plasma proteins with possible roles in infection prevention that have been described [26]. In this regard, it is of interest that none of the pockets treated with PBM(-MR) demonstrated purulence, and 2 of 5 were culture negative.…”

“…Plasma and platelets contain an array of growth factors and other signaling molecules that are released into an injury site upon platelet activation to initiate the healing cascade [24]. Accumulating evidence support therapies using materials derived from plasma/platelets to accelerate and enhance healing of surgical and traumatic wounds while also having an antimicrobial effect [25,26]. PBMs are novel solid to semi-solid biologically-active materials that are made from pooled allogeneic plasma and platelets [27].…”