Polylactide implants and bacterial contamination: an animal study.

Abstract

Although bioresorbable aliphatic polyesters derived from lactic acid are now used clinically as sutures, bone-fracture fixation devices and sustained-release drug-delivery systems, very little is known about their behavior in the infected environment. The aim of the present study was to compare the resistance to infection of two polylactide implants with different degradation characteristics, and to evaluate the influence of a bacterial challenge on their mechanical and physicochemical properties. Various quantities of a beta-haemolyzing strain of Staphylococus aureus (V 8189-94) were inoculated into the medullary cavity of rabbit tibiae, and an extruded polylactide rod composed of either P(L)LA (Poly(L-Lactide)) or P(L/DL)LA (Poly(L/DL-Lactide)) was then inserted. Animals were sacrificed four weeks after surgery. The tibiae and implants were removed under sterile conditions and evaluated microbiologically by culturing. The severity of infection was graded according to positive colony-forming units in the bone. The mechanical properties of the retrieved implants were assessed by 4-point bending and shear tests, performed in compliance with the ASTM D790 standard and their physicochemical characteristics also were characterized. P(L)LA and P(L/DL)LA implants were equally resistant to local infection, their mechanical and physicochemical properties being unaffected by bacterial challenge. Hence, once an infection has become established, the release of bactericidal/bacteriostatic by-products during implant degradation does not appear to affect its natural course. The release of bactericidal/bacteriostatic degradation products at the implantation site is unlikely to affect the natural course of an established infection.

• Authors: P Mainil-Varlet, C Hauke, V Maquet, G Printzen, S Arens, T Schaffner, R Jér me, S Perren, U Schlegel
• Journal: Journal of biomedical materials research (J Biomed Mater Res) Vol. 54 Issue 3 Pg. 335-43 (Mar 05 2001) ISSN: 0021-9304 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11189038 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biocompatible Materials
• Polyesters
• poly(lactide)

Topics

• Animals
• Biocompatible Materials (chemistry)
• Chemical Phenomena
• Chemistry, Physical
• Chromatography, Gel
• Crystallization
• Differential Thermal Analysis
• Materials Testing
• Molecular Weight
• Polyesters
• Prosthesis-Related Infections (microbiology, pathology)
• Rabbits
• Staphylococcal Infections (etiology, microbiology, pathology)
• Stress, Mechanical