Study: Agluna-Treated Devices Significantly Reduce Infection Rates

Accentus Medical Ltd. finally has proof that its Agluna surface technology can help reduce infection rates.

A retrospective review of infection rates linked to orthopedic limb salvage devices treated with Alguna show an overall reduction in post-operative infection rates, from 22.4 percent in control to 11.8 percent with treated implants. Researchers claim the treatment also has other benefits as well:

• Success rates with debridement, antibiotics and implant retention rose from 31.6 percent in control to 70 percent with Alguna;
• Persistent periprosthetic infections requiring device removal, amputation or chronic antibiotics suppression fell from 15.3 percent in control to 3.5 percent with Alguna;
• Post-operative infection rates in patients with intraoperative positive cultures plummeted from 40 percent in control to 13.3 percent with Alguna; and
• Success rates with two-stage revisions increased from 57.1 percent in control to 85 percent with Agluna.

“These clinical review findings in the limb salvage sector are impressive,” said Martin Pickford, Accentus Medical’s orthopedic advisor. “Devices with the Alguna surface modification rather than a metallic silver coating are showing the clinical benefits of optimizing surface concentration and release profile of silver ions. I look forward to wider clinical benefits being delivered as the technology is in due course adopted on a broader range of joint reconstructive devices.”

During the Agluna surface treatment process, silver is “stitched” into the titanium surface in the form of positively charged ions. Silver’s renowned bactericidal properties have prompted many worldwide regulatory bodies to approve the material on a wide variety of products. Silver ions at low doses eliminate bacterial cells with no human toxicological side effects.

The Agluna treatment enables the steady release of silver ions from the implant’s surface over several months by dissolution into the body’s fluids, eventually leaving a silver-free implant with long-term durability and biocompatibility, according to the Oxfordshire, United Kingdom-based company.

“These clinical results provide further reinforcement of the commercial potential of Agluna as anti-microbial technology for titanium implantable devices,” CEO Philip Agg said.
Accentus Medical is a privately-owned developer of advanced surface technologies, coatings and treatments.