Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in which bacteria are increasingly resistant to antibiotics is an explosive problem worldwide. For example, AMR increases the risk of life-threatening infections after surgery, resulting in poorer treatment outcomes and an increase in healthcare costs. "If almost everyone continues to underestimate this problem, by 2050, 10 million people worldwide will die every year from the effects of AMR," says Dr. Chris Arts, "and these are still conservative estimates. In the last 20 years, no new antibiotics have entered the market. That is why it is so important that we start researching alternative technologies to reduce the use of antibiotics."

Materials

The core of the research is the development of materials that prevent bacterial growth. Innovations in the field of biomedical materials play a key role in this, according to Arts. "Bacteria are experts in biological warfare. They fight continuously with other species and against our bodies’ own cells. It is therefore not surprising that bacteria become resistant to the antibiotics we use on them. However, if we can make their immediate environment or, for example, the surface of our implants inhospitable to bacteria, we can prevent infections and at the same time not fear we are contributing to the development of AMR." 

Cooperation

In a broad project, the many aspects of AMR are examined. To better understand how bacteria grow on a surface, advanced imaging techniques are used by the Maastricht based M4I Institute. Within the project, there is also explicit attention to the implementation of new techniques and social awareness around AMR. As part of the Dutch Research Agenda, the Dutch Research Council is providing a grant of €9.8 million to the DARTBAC project: Dutch Antimicrobial Resistance Technology development and Biofilm Assessment Consortium. In addition, the industry partners of the DARTBAC consortium are contributing an additional €1.3 million to the budget.