Treatment of experimental osteomyelitis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus with a biodegradable system of lactic acid polymer releasing pefloxacin

A novel biodegradable system of D-,L-dilactide delivering pefloxacin was im planted in 104 rabbits with experimental osteomyelitis caused by methicilli n-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), 26 serving as controls. Animals w ere killed on each third day and viable bacterial counts and levels of pefl oxacin in bone tissue were determined. A 99.9% decrease in viable count of bacteria was achieved by day 12 and complete bacterial eradication on day 3 3. Pefloxacin was released gradually, reaching its peak on day 15 at levels 100 times the MIC of pefloxacin for MRSA. The biodegradable system describ ed may have a future role in the therapeutic approach to osteomyelitis.