Abstract
Introduction: Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are a novel class of antimicrobial agents effective against among others MRSA in vitro. Previously, we reported the release of AMP Dhvar-5 and hLF1-11 from different bone cements(1,4). In this study we investigated the efficacy of calcium phosphate cement (Calcibon®) loaded with hLF1-11 for the treatment of MRSA osteomyelitis in vivo.
Materials and Methods: Osteomyelitis was induced in 14 rabbits by MRSA, as described by Norden et al.(2) After 3 weeks all animals were treated by a thorough local debridement and subsequent filling of the tibial cavity with Calcibon® bone cement. Six control animals received Calcibon® without additives and 8 animals received Calcibon® loaded with 50 mg hLFl-11 per g cement powder. Treatment outcome was analyzed by microbiology, radiology and histology after 3 weeks follow-up.
Results: The results are shown in table 1. The number of CFU per gram of bone were significantly lower in the 50 mg hLFl-11 group (median 3.0x103 CFU/g bone) compared to the control group (median 3.5xl06 CFU/g bone).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that hLFl-11 has the ability to cure an existing MRSA osteomyelitis in 5 out of 8 animals. The data suggest that the antimicrobial peptide, hLFl-11 in Calcibon® is able to treat osteomyelitis in vivo.
The abstracts were prepared by editorial secretary, Mrs K. Papastefanou. Correspondence should be addressed to Professor K.N. Malizos, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Thessalia, Larissa, 41222 GREECE
References
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