Biomaterial-associated-infections (BAI) are serious clinical complications that threaten the longevity of implanted devices and lead to high morbidity and mortality. Poly(ethylene)glycol (PEG) coatings have been studied as a strategy to reduce the incidence of BAI by reducing protein deposition that promotes pathogen adhesion and growth on device surfaces. Despite their effectiveness to reduce protein adsorption and a hundred-fold reduction in bacterial adhesion, PEG-based coatings still facilitate weak bacterial adhesion that can form an initial basis for biofilms. Here, we describe a methodology enabling direct, quantitative and detailed qualitativein situobservation of macrophage morphology, migration and phagocytosis of bacteria.In vitrointeraction of macrophages withStaphylococcus epidermidis3399 adhering to commercial, crosslinked PEG-based coatings (OptiChem®) was compared with fluorinated ethylene propylene, silicone rubber and glass. Adhesion, phagocytosis and migration were studied real-time in a parallel-plate-flow-chamber. Macrophages cultured on OptiChem® coatings showed enhanced migration and phagocytosis of bacteria compared to common biomaterials. Bacterial clearance per macrophage on both inert and reactive OptiChem® coatings were about three times higher than on the common biomaterials studied, corresponding with up to 70% reduction in bacterial numbers on OptiChem®, whereas on the biomaterials less than 40% bacterial reduction was obtained. These findings show that bacterial clearance from cross-linked PEG-based coatings by macrophages is more effective than from common biomaterials, possibly resulting from weak adhesion of bacteria on Optichem®. Moreover, macrophages exhibit higher mobility on Optichem® retaining an improved capability to clear bacteria from larger areas than from other common biomaterials, where they appear more immobilized.