PMMA bead versus parenteral treatment of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis

G S Heard1, L M Oloff, D A Wolfe

  • 1Podiatry Section, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

Insights

Clindamycin-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads show promise for treating Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis in rabbits, outperforming gentamicin beads. Consider clindamycin for gram-positive bone infections.

Area of Science:

  • Orthopedics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Biomaterials Science

Background:

  • Osteomyelitis, a bone infection, poses significant treatment challenges.
  • Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) beads are utilized for localized antibiotic delivery in bone infections.
  • Evaluating the efficacy of different antibiotic-impregnated PMMA beads is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the efficacy of clindamycin-impregnated PMMA beads versus gentamicin-impregnated PMMA beads in a rabbit model of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis.
  • To assess parenteral clindamycin treatment and surgical debridement alone as control groups.
  • To guide the selection of antibiotics for PMMA bead therapy in gram-positive and mixed bacterial bone infections.

Main Methods:

  • A rabbit model of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis was established.
  • Treatment groups included clindamycin-PMMA beads, gentamicin-PMMA beads, parenteral clindamycin, and surgical debridement alone.
  • Cortical bone and marrow flush specimens were cultured post-treatment to assess bacterial eradication.

Main Results:

  • Parenteral clindamycin achieved 100% bacterial eradication in cortical bone specimens.
  • Clindamycin-PMMA beads resulted in 83% eradication in cortical bone and 67% in marrow flush.
  • Gentamicin-PMMA beads showed lower efficacy, with 0% cortical and 40% marrow eradication.

Conclusions:

  • Clindamycin appears more effective than gentamicin when impregnated in PMMA beads for Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis.
  • The study suggests replacing gentamicin with clindamycin for gram-positive osteomyelitis treated with PMMA beads.
  • Combination therapy with clindamycin and gentamicin/tobramycin may be beneficial for mixed infections.