Ceftriaxone-PMMA beads--a slow release preparation?

The use of various drug delivery systems to achieve high levels of the desired antibiotic(s) at the site of infection has become commonplace in orthopaedic and trauma units the world over. One of these techniques uses the implantation of antibiotic-impregnated beads at operation sites. Commercial antibiotic beads such as the gentamicin bead are available but expensive, especially for patients in developing countries. We have shown that ceftriaxone-polymethylmethacrylate beads can be produced locally and at low cost in a resource-poor environment. We have also shown that such beads elute the antibiotic (ceftriaxone) effectively in vitro, achieving similar or better activity when measured by zones of inhibition against various bacteria species compared with standard antibiotic discs. This technique offers a cost-effective method of treating chronic bone infections in resource-poor settings.