A new in-vitro model to investigate antibiotic penetration of the intervertebral disc.
We have studied the ability of a range of antibiotics to penetrate intervertebral disc tissue in vitro, using a mouse disc model. Equilibrium concentrations of antibiotics incorporated into the entire disc were determined by bioassay using a microbial growth-inhibition method. Uptake was significantly higher with positively-charged aminoglycosides compared with negatively-charged penicillins and cephalosporins. Uncharged ciprofloxacin showed an intermediate degree of uptake. Our results support the hypothesis that electrostatic interaction between charged antibiotics and negatively-charged glycosaminoglycans in the disc is an important factor in antibiotic penetration, and may explain their differential uptake.
Thomas
R de W
Rde W
Department of Orthopaedics, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK.
Batten
J J
JJ
Want
S
S
McCarthy
I D
ID
Brown
M
M
Hughes
S P
SP
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004058:Diffusion; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000378:metabolism*; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010539:Permeability; D012505:Sarcina / Q000187:drug effects
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents