Discrimination of bacterial concentrations of Staphylococcus Aureus based on statistical spectral analysis using a Smart-Spacer prototype with a low-resolution spectrometer unit as an application during two-stage total endoprosthesis (TEP) revision

Monitoring and eradicating bacteria poses a significant challenge in treating periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). Addressing this challenge, the Smart Wireless Implant for Infection Monitoring (SWI2M) project was initiated to enhance treatment efficacy and fulfill unmet needs. The project focuses on developing a sensorized SmartSpacer, replacing the cement spacer in the two-stage revision for infected Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). This innovative SmartSpacer will facilitate in vivo observation throughout the infection course by acquiring temperature, imaging, and light-scattering characteristics of synovial fluid. These diverse data enable the determination of propagation of the ongoing infection in grade and level. This document describes the experiments in which Staphylococcus aureus bacterial suspensions were exposed to a broadband light source of the SmartSpacer, resulting in low-resolution scattering spectra and determining the bacterial load concentration based on a statistical algorithm for trend detection.