Prevention of Pin Tract Infections in Goats Using Antibiotic Coated Polyurethane Tubing

Abstract

Pin tract infections have been considered a major drawback in the use of external fixation and can deleteriously affect bone and soft tissue healing. Recognizing the scope of the problem, a study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated polyurethane tubing for the prevention of pin tract infections. Antibiotic-coated pin sleeves were manufactured by Smith & Nephew, Richards, Memphis, TN and were made of polyether-based, thermoplastic polyurethane tubing, which is the same material used in cardiovascular and urological catheters and stents. The interior and exterior of the tubing were coated with an antibiotic polymer matrix (gentamicin 0.2 to 0.4 mg/cm²) from which the antibiotic was released. 4-mm half-pins were placed in the iliac crest of goats and randomly assigned pins were then treated with the antibiotic sleeve. Pins were contaminated with a gentamicin-sensitive strain of Staphylococcus aureus. The antibiotic-loaded pin sleeves were effective in decreasing the number of organism colony forming units per pin by 4 orders of magnitude (P < 0.005) and increasing the stability of the external half pins by 24.5 % (P < 0.05).

Key words

Pin tract infection - external fixation - gentamicin antibiotic coated pin sleeves - osteomyelitis

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