Influence of bacterial strains on bone infection

Experiments were performed on 120 rabbits to compare the probability of infection after bone surgery without an implant, with polymethylmethacrylate, and with bone autografts. Staphylococcus aureus phage type 94/96, isolated from a human osteomyelitis, was instilled into the intramedullar cavity after reaming of the femoral canal and before insertion of the implant. The different 50% infective doses were determined for each of the groups for comparative purposes. The bacterial concentrations required to produce infection in femora without an implant were two times less than those necessary in femora implanted with polymethylmethacrylate. The bone graft required bacterial concentrations nine times less than those necessary to infect femora containing polymethylmethacrylate and four times less than those required to infect femora without an implant. The results presented here confirm that the susceptibility to infection in orthopaedic surgery is not only material dependent but also bacteria dependent.