Antistaphylococcal activity of antibiotic impregnated bone cement

Infections following total knee arthroplasty constitute a devastating problem and represent a difficult obstacle for surgeons in the treatment of these patients. This study was performed in order to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of bone cement impregnated with five different antibiotics effective against staphylococci and to measure the elution of these antibiotics from the cement. The determination of the in vitro activity was performed immediately, 24, 48, 72 h, 4, 5, 6 and 7 days after the preparation of the impregnated cement. All the agents tested in our study maintained bioactivity after incorporation in bone cement and eluted readily into surrounding medium. The results indicate that the glycopeptides diffuse from bone cement in therapeutic concentrations.