A carbon-based alternative therapy to reduce the antimicrobial drugs administration in the treatment of bovine uterine infections

Supervisor: Prof. Giuseppe Stradaioli

The diagnosis of postpartum uterine infection is usually followed by the administration of traditional therapy with antimicrobials. These drugs have a proven efficiency, but their extensive administration could lead to antibiotic resistance and to an increased risk of residues in the environment. Recently, the efficacy of an intrauterine device, made with an adsorbent material, on women affected by chronic endometritis was tested with positive results; a great reduction of bacterial growth was reported, even compared with the antibiotic therapy. Similarly, comparable performance should be achieved in cows using a carbon-based sorbent device, in which the advantages are represented by a microporous, biologically inert, structure and by a chemical and geometric surface that enables carbon to adsorb bacteria and their toxins, thus supporting the clearance of the uterus and reducing the local pro-inflammatory response. The possibility of developing a new therapeutic approach, alternative to antimicrobials, for treating uterine infections could be the core for improving the sustainability of cow’s breeding and food production.