Osteomyelitis prevention in rabbits using antimicrobial peptide hLF1-11- or gentamicin-containing calcium phosphate cement.
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of prophylactic treatment with human lactoferrin 1-11 (hLF1-11), a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide, was studied in a rabbit model of femur infection.


METHODS
Calcium phosphate cement with 50 mg/g hLF1-11 or gentamicin was injected into the femoral canal, after inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus. Three weeks later, slices of the proximal femora were sawn for quantitative bacterial culture and histology.


RESULTS
Treatment with hLF1-11 (P<0.038) or gentamicin (P<0.008) caused a reduction of cfu compared with the untreated control rabbits. The number of sterile cultures was higher in hLF1-11- (3/7) and gentamicin- (5/6) treated animals than in controls (1/7). Radiological and histological analysis showed early bone ingrowth into the cement cracks, and only moderate pathological changes in rabbits with positive cultures.


CONCLUSIONS
Local prophylaxis with hLF1-11 effectively reduced development of osteomyelitis in a rabbit model, but gentamicin resulted in a larger number of sterile femora.
Stallmann
Hein P
HP
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Faber
Christopher
C
Bronckers
Antonius L J J
AL
Nieuw Amerongen
Arie V
AV
Wuisman
Paul I J M
PI
D000038:Abscess / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007781:Lactoferrin; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D009336:Necrosis; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001843:Bone Cements; D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D004337:Drug Carriers; D005839:Gentamicins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C466658:lactoferrin (1-11), human; D007781:Lactoferrin