BACTERIAL ADHESION ON ANTIBIOTIC-LOADED POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE BONE CEMENT

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement, commonly used for the fixation of joint prostheses and also for orthopaedic devices, may be colonised by Gram positive cocci. The use of antibiotic-loaded PMMA should prevent bacterial colonisation of cement surfaces. Biofilm formation on bone cement could be more effectively reduced by incorporation of a second antibiotic The aim of our study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of gentamicin (G)- and vancomycin (V)-loaded PMMA cement specimens on the bacterial adhesion of multi-resistant clinical isolates staphylococci.