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Published on: March 3, 2023

Percutaneous treatment of chronic MRSA osteomyelitis with a novel plant-derived antiseptic

E Sherry1, H Boeck, P H Warnke

  • 1OR Design Unit, University of Sydney, Nepean Hospital, PO Box 63, Penrith, NSW 2750, Australia. esherry@bigpond.com

BMC Surgery
|May 23, 2001
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

A novel treatment using Polytoxinol (PT) antimicrobial delivered via bone pellets successfully resolved a severe methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bone infection. This approach offers a promising new strategy for intractable bacterial wound infections.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Antibiotic resistance, exemplified by MRSA and VRE, poses a significant global challenge for wound infections.
  • Phytochemicals like tea tree oil and eucalyptus extracts exhibit potent in vitro bactericidal effects against MRSA.
  • Polytoxinol (PT) is a novel antimicrobial preparation available in various formulations.

Observation:

  • This study details the first percutaneous administration of Polytoxinol (PT) via calcium sulphate pellets (Osteoset) into bone.
  • The treatment targeted an intractable methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in the lower tibia of an adult male.

Findings:

  • The patient experienced symptom resolution over a three-month treatment period.
  • Radiographic evidence indicated a healing response in the affected bone.
  • C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a marker of inflammation, were reduced.

Implications:

  • Percutaneous delivery of Polytoxinol (PT) via bone pellets presents a potentially effective method for treating deep-seated bone infections.
  • This innovative drug delivery system could offer a new therapeutic avenue for challenging MRSA infections.
  • Further research into this localized drug delivery method is warranted for complex osteomyelitis cases.

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