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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
A Novel Method to Determine the Longitudinal Antibacterial Activity of Drug-Eluting Materials
Published on: March 3, 2023
Enhancement of antibiotic elution from acrylic bone cement
Konstantinos Anagnostakos1, Jens Kelm
1Klinik für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie, Universität des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany. konstantinos.anagnostakos@unikliniksaarland.de)
Abstract:
Antibiotic-loaded acrylic bone cement is a well-established tool in the prophylaxis and treatment of orthopedic infections. Numerous studies about its pharmacokinetic properties have demonstrated that only a small part of the incorporated antibiotic amounts can be released, mostly over the first 8-10 weeks. Therefore, in the past 10 years, several attempts have been made for enhancement of the drug elution from bone cement. This article reviews this experience and pays special attention on biantibiotic combinations, additives other than antimicrobial agents, as well as the effect of ultrasound on the antibiotic elution characteristics.