Introductie
In this thesis, novel vancomycinbased PET tracers were developed and characterized to improve bacteria-targeted imaging of (Grampositive) infections. The research was conducted using various in vitro, in vitro, and post mortem models of infection.

Bacterial infections remain a serious challenge in most fields of medicine and they are responsible for major patient morbidity and mortality (1), and healthcare costs. Fracturerelated infections (FRIs), specifically, occur in between 1% and 30% of all trauma patients (2). These infections were found to cause a fivefold to tenfold prolonged hospital stay compared to patients who do not suffer from an infection. There are a number of factors contributing to the occurrence of bacterial infections in the hospital environment, such as
the increasingly aging population, an increase in elective surgeries and use of biomaterials, including orthopaedic implants for fracture care, such as osteosynthesis plates, nails, and joint prosthesis.