PREVENTION OF IMPLANT-RELATED OSTEOMYELITIS DUE TO DOXYCYCLINE-RESISTANT METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS USING A DOXYCYCLINE-LOADED POLYMER-LIPID ENCAPSULATION MATRIX COATING

One of the most challenging complications in orthopedic trauma surgery is the development of infection. Improved infection prophylaxis could be achieved by providing local delivery of antibiotics directly to the tissue-implant interface. Especially implant-associated bone infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose significant clinical challenges to treating physicians. Prophylactic strategies that act against resistant organisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are urgently required.The objective of this experimental study was to determine the efficacy of a biodegradable Polymer-Lipid Encapsulation MatriX (PLEX) loaded with the antibiotic doxycycline as a local prophylactic strategy against implant-associated osteomyelitis in a humeral non-fracture rabbit model.Activity of the PLEX-doxycycline-coating was tested against both a doxycycline susceptible (doxyS) methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) as well as a doxycycline-resistant (doxyR) MRSA. In a rabbit intra...