title: Implant stability in the treatment of MRSA bone implant infections with linezolid versus vancomycin in a rabbit model.
abstract: The increasing prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections represents a significant healthcare burden. Vancomycin and linezolid exhibit potent clinical and microbiological activity in MRSA infections. Our purpose was to investigate the efficacy of linezolid versus vancomycin in experimental implant infections and the influence on implant stability in a rabbit model. Thirty-six female New Zealand White rabbits received surgical insertion of titanium implants into their distal femurs and were randomly assigned to six groups (A: infected, no treatment; B: infected, vancomycin; C: infected, linezolid; D: no infection, no treatment; E/F: no infection, vancomycin or linezolid, respectively). Antibiotics were administered, and plasma levels determined. Bone-implant specimens were tested for mechanical stability of fixation. Quantitative histomorphometry of bone and soft tissue was performed using computerized image analysis. Plasma levels of linezolid and vancomycin were within the respective therapeutic ranges. Microbiological analysis of specimens from infected rabbits showed MRSA tissue colonization in all untreated animals, in two of six vancomycin-treated animals, and in none of the linezolid-treated animals. Antibiotic treatment improved mechanical stability significantly (p = 0.004) with both vancomycin and linezolid. Mechanical testing correlated with histomorphometry results. A significant negative correlation was found between displacement of the implant and the percentage of calcified tissue around the implant, and a significant positive correlation was found between displacement of the implant and the amount of noncalcified tissue. Our data indicate that both treatment regimens improved implant stability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Schlierbacher Landstrasse 200a, D-69118 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Simank
authors.forename: Helga
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Stefanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swoboda
authors.forename: Heinrich K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Geiss
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Helbig
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery*; D000069349:Linezolid; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D023303:Oxazolidinones / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011817:Rabbits; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014025:Titanium; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023303:Oxazolidinones; D014640:Vancomycin; D014025:Titanium; D000069349:Linezolid