title: Comparative study of antibiotic-containing polymethylmetacrylate capsules and beads.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aimed at making local antibiotic therapy wider in cases of chronic suppurations by administering antibiotics which previously could not be given in this way through the conventional polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) carrier techniques. Capsules from this material were produced with a pressing machine designed and laid out by us. The characteristics of antibiotic penetration from this novel carrier were compared to those of PMMA beads.
  
  
  METHODS
  The time-dependent outflow of amikacin, clindamycin, pefloxacin, piperacillin + tazobactam, amoxicillin + clavulanic acid and cefotaxime was examined from the capsules and the beads with standard microbiological techniques using the Micrococcus luteus ATCC9341 test strain. The diameter of the inhibitory zones was measured after 24 h incubation at 37 degrees C and converted to mug/ml antibiotic concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results revealed that all antibiotics showed longer-lasting and higher concentration outflow from the PMMA capsules than from the beads. Therefore, these capsules can provide a more promising new opportunity for specific local antimicrobial treatment in cases of chronic suppurative bone and soft tissue injuries. In these cases the polymerization has already been completed and the heat does not influence the structure of the antibiotics; therefore, it can be inserted into the capsules in powder or solution form.
authors.affiliation: Department of Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Hungary. borzseil@clinics.pote.hu
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borzsei
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mintál
authors.forename: Aranka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Horváth
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Koós
authors.forename: Béla
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kocsis
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nyárády
mesh_terms: D000583:Amikacin / Q000737:chemistry; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination / Q000737:chemistry; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry*; D002214:Capsules / Q000737:chemistry*; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000737:chemistry; D008863:Microspheres; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000737:chemistry; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002214:Capsules; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D002981:Clindamycin; D019980:Amoxicillin-Potassium Clavulanate Combination; D000583:Amikacin; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D010878:Piperacillin