inguinal hernia cases. "When you place the mesh in this area, the con-
cern is that it's going to slide around and expose the gap, which would
cause recurrence," he says. "The most obvious solution is to fixate the
mesh, but the question is, where do you tack it down with so many
important structures?"
1 2 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A Y 2 0 1 6
Open ventral hernia repair is one of the most common
surgeries in the United States, but it has infection rates
as high as 40%, says Lisa Jennings, PhD, professor of
medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science
Center and chief scientific officer of Ariste Medical. To
combat this common complication, Dr. Jennings and col-
leagues from the university are developing a drug-eluting
mesh designed to fight infection from the inside out.
Ariste Medical's polypropylene mesh features a unique
coating of antibiotics that keeps microbes at bay as the
patient recovers. While the mesh isn't yet available —
they hope to earn FDA approval early next year — studies have shown that it's successful at pre-
venting bacteria from contaminating the surgical site immediately after surgery. In a study pre-
sented at the Annual Hernia Repair Meeting of the American Hernia Society, researchers found
that the mesh sustained antimicrobial activity against common bacteria for at least 14 days after
implantation, as well as protection against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens associated
with SSIs, such as MRSA and E. coli.
"What's unique is that we are able to show robust antimicrobial activity for at least 14 days,"
says Dr. Jennings, noting that though there are other drug-eluting meshes on the market, those
tend to remain antimicrobial for only 7 days. "We hope that in the long term, this would reduce
the incidence of infection and have a positive impact on patient outcomes."
— Kendal Gapinski
• SSI PREVENTION Lisa Jennings, PhD, is
developing a drug-eluting hernia mesh that
helps prevent bacterial growth.
FIGHT INFECTIONS
Could Drug-Eluting Mesh Prevent SSIs?
