Antibiotic bead production.

We are reporting a practical technique for the production of antibiotic beads for use in combating musculoskeletal infections. The technique utilizes bead molds with tobramycin powder mixed with polymethylmethacrylate on twisted wire strands to produce strands of 25 beads of various sizes. These beads are gas sterilized and available for use "off the shelf" in a manner that is much more efficient than traditional production by hand on the back table in the operating room. Our technique was also utilized at a second institution to demonstrate its efficacy at another site.