title: In vitro comparison between commercially and manually mixed antibiotic-loaded bone cements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is the evaluation of the differences and, eventually, of the advantages or disadvantages of manual formulations with respect to industrial ones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical-grade bone cements (Palacos R® and Palacos LV®), based on poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) and used clinically in several cemented prosthetic devices were manually enriched with gentamicin sulphate during preparation and then compared with a commercially-available, antibiotic-loaded cement (Palacos R+G®) by means of an in vitro antibacterial test (inhibition zone evaluation). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences and advantages or disadvantages, if any, of manual formulations compared to commercial ones. The use of a different antibiotic (vancomycin) alone or in addition to gentamicin-containing bone cements was also considered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The commercial formulation produces an inhibition zone that is a bit larger and more regular than the manually mixed preparation. The vancomycin halo is smaller but clearer than the gentamicin halo. The addition of vancomycin to gentamicin-containing bone cements does not significantly increase the halo dimensions but could be an interesting strategy in the prevention of multiple and resistant infections.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Department, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferraris
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miola
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bistolfi
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fucale
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crova
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massé
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verné
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D001843:Bone Cements / Q000737:chemistry*; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001843:Bone Cements; D005839:Gentamicins