Resorbable ciprofloxacin/polyglycol acid carrier in the local therapy of chronic osteitis.

Polyglycolic test cylinders (PGA) of different sizes and with a different amount of Ciprofloxacin were synthezised and tested in vitro. The monofil 3,2×5 mm sized cylinders containing 3 mg of Ciprofloxacin showed the best release of the antibiotic up to half a year (measured by HPLC). In vivo setting: in the right femur of 66 rabbits osteomyelitis was induced by injection of 3×10(6) cfu of staph, aureus after the bone marrow had been sclerosed with sodium morrhuate 5%. Two weeks later test cylinders were implanted into the femoral shaft of 30 animals. Thirty-six animals served as controls. Criteria evaluated: weight change, laboratory findings, microbiological, radiological and histopathological parameters. The concentration of Ciprofloxacin was measured in serum, urine and wound secretion by HPLC. All animals developed osteomyelitis. Swabs from the marrow of all treated animals were sterile. The histopathological findings in the control group showed the mild or strong chronic-persistent form of osteomyelitis. In the therapy group even after 2 weeks we mainly found the the chronic-fibrous form. The test-cylinders were well tolerated in the marrow. Levels of the drug were measured in serum, urine and wound secretion.