ANTIBIOTIC-RESISTANCE IN STAPHYLOCOCCI ADHERENT TO CORTICAL BONE

The surface-adherent mode of bacterial growth has been shown to play a pivotal role in the persistent nature of infections involving retaine d foreign bodies, biomaterials, or dead bone (e.g., osteomyelitis). Th e hypothesis tested herein is that bone and implant materials-polytetr afluoroethylene (PTFE), and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)-provide a su rface environment that promotes a type of bacterial growth characteriz ed by an enhanced antibiotic resistance. The antibiotic resistance est imates of three staphylococcal subtypes were determined for organisms grown in an adherent state on the aforementioned surfaces as well as i n their nonadherent or suspended state. Antibiotic resistance was foun d to vary with mode of bacterial growth. Secondly, for the staphylococ cal subtypes, antibiotics and modes of growth studied herein, adherent growth on bone was associated with the most antibiotic resistance.