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Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2019; 32(01): 041-050
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1676292
Original Research
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Copper Bead Therapy in Severe Bone Infection: A Rabbit Tibial Model

Carmen C. Surdu-Bob
1   Low Temperature Plasma Laboratory, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Magurele, Romania
,
Ene Vlase
2   Unit of Animal Experimentation “Cantacuzino” National Institute for Medico-Military Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania
,
Florica Barbuceanu
3   Department of Morphopathology, Institute for Diagnosis and Animal Health, Bucharest, Romania
,
Danut Turcu
4   “Spiru Haret” University, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, Bucharest, Romania
,
Mariana Coman
5   Department of Radiology, Marie Sklodowska Curie Children's Hospital, Bucharest, Romania
,
Marius Badulescu
1   Low Temperature Plasma Laboratory, National Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics, Magurele, Romania
,
Mariana Oporanu
6   ROMVAC Company S.A., Jud. Ilfov, Bucharest, Romania
,
Cristin Coman
2   Unit of Animal Experimentation “Cantacuzino” National Institute for Medico-Military Research and Development, Bucharest, Romania
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

16 January 2018

26 September 2018

Publication Date:
15 January 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Objective We investigated the benefits of a local preventive therapy based on copper beads against severe bone infection using a rabbit open tibial fracture model.

Materials and Methods Cotton mesh balls soaked in a very high concentration of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 culture were inoculated in drilled holes of the tibiae of treated and control groups. The treated group was also implanted with small copper beads simultaneously, as prevention therapy.

Results Survival rate in the treated group was 67% compared with 25% in the control group (difference 40%, for a 95% confidence interval: 40%, 93.4%). The few remaining animals in the control group had bone lesions which developed into osteomyelitis, while the tibiae of treated group had clear signs of reparatory processes. Sixty days after inoculation, signs of local-only toxicity were observed in healthy tibia of a separate non-infected control group. Drawbacks of copper toxicity were weighed against the threat of septicaemia and also against prolonged use of powerful systemic antibiotic medications in severe bone contamination.

Cinical Significance It was found that the proposed therapy prevented septicaemia and the spread of infection, and it also induced reparatory processes. The findings of this study may be relevant in antisepsis of open fractures in less appropriate medical settings (such as military camps or remote locations), as well as in severe bone infections.

Keywords

osteomyelitis - septicaemia - bone infection - rabbit - copper bead

Author Contribution

Carmen Cristina Surdu-Bob and Cristin Coman contributed to conception of study, study design, acquisition of data and data analysis and interpretation. Ene Vlase contributed to study design, acquisition of data and data analysis and interpretation. Florica Barbuceanu, Danut Turcu, Mariana Coman, Marius Badulescu and Mariana Oporanu contributed to acquisition of data and data analysis and interpretation. Carmen Cristina Surdu-Bob and Cristin Coman drafted, revised and approved the submitted manuscript. Ene Vlase, Florica Barbuceanu, Danut Turcu, Mariana Coman, Marius Badulescu and Mariana Oporanu approved the submitted manuscript.


 

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