title: The effect of antibiotics on bone healing: current evidence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bone healing is a complex cascade of events that involves the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblastic cells under the influence of signals from growth factors, cytokines and mechanical loading. Several medications have been found to interact negatively with this process including cytostatics, NSAIDs and corticosteroids; however, the effect of antibiotics on bone repair processes remains obscure.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors offer a comprehensive review of the existing literature on the in vivo and in vitro effect of antibiotics on bone, bone cells and fracture healing. The authors describe the pharmacokinetic characteristics of antibiotics after parenteral administration as well as their levels when applied locally together with a delivery vehicle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The available experimental data and clinical evidence are rather limited to allow safe conclusions. In vitro studies indicate that high doses administered after systemic administration have little or no direct effect on bone cells. Further studies are desirable to define the effect of higher or prolonged concentrations on bone biology and especially that of high concentrations released by locally implanted antibiotic-delivery systems, that is, bone cement, spacers and beads.
authors.affiliation: University of Leeds, School of Medicine, Academic Department of Trauma & Orthopaedics, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Ippokratis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pountos
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Georgouli
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kontakis
authors.forename: Peter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Giannoudis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000187:drug effects*; D017102:Fracture Healing / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents