COLLAGEN WITH GENTAMICIN FOR PROPHYLAXIS OF POSTOPERATIVE INFECTION -STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS OSTEOMYELITIS STUDIED IN RABBITS

In 34 rabbits, both tibiae were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus. 14 legs received no treatment and served as controls. In 12 legs, the wound was treated with pure collagen and in 18 legs, collagen with ge ntamicin (Gentacoll(R)) in a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight was applied to the wound before closure. Postoperatively 12 received 10 mg/kg body weight gentamicin intravenously and no local treatment. The animals w ere killed 7 days after inoculation acid evaluated macroscopically and microbiologically for infection. 6 rabbits (12 legs) were used for ph armacokinetic studies only and they were killed after 2, 4, and 18 hou rs, respectively. 11/14 untreated legs developed a macroscopically acu te osteomyelitis. No infection was found in the 18 legs treated with G entacoll(R) and 1/12 treated with gentamicin systemically had growth o f the inoculated bacteria in tissue biopsies. The concentrations of ge ntamicin in the serum as well as locally reached peak values were well above the MIC value in all groups, with a maximum after 1-2 hours. No gentamicin could be detected after 18 hours, independently of the mod e of administration.