Biofilm Formation is Durably Prevented on Pre-Fabricated Antibiotic Cement Spacers Compared to Cobalt Chrome and Polyethylene.

Background: A 2-stage revision remains the standard for managing chronic periprosthetic joint infection. Despite multiple spacer options, whether a particular one better resists biofilm formation remains unclear. Prefabricated polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) articulating spacers containing antibiotics and a proprietary pore structure were developed to increase antibiotic elution characterized by a rapid burst phase for the initial one to two days and an extended slow-release phase for > 28 days. This in vitro study determined whether biofilm formation is prevented during the initial rapid burst phase and/or the slow-release phase.

Methods: S. aureus-Xen36 was incubated in 1.5 mL of Luria-Bertani broth with PMMA discs with the proprietary pore structure either with or without gentamycin and vancomycin or with 'Hoffman style' positive-control discs (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene or cobalt-chrome). Nonadherent bacteria were removed by three phosphate buffered saline rinses every 20 to 24 hours. Planktonic bacterial growth in the culture broth and biofilm formation on the discs were measured by colony forming unit (CFU) counting and resazurin reduction assays. Experiments were repeated > four times.

Results: No detectable planktonic bacterial growth or biofilm formation occurred in cultures containing PMMA with antibiotics (≤ 15 CFUs/disc), whereas biofilms formed on PMMA without antibiotics, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and cobalt-chrome (1 × 10⁷ to 4 × 10⁸ CFUs/disc, P < 0.0001). Biofilm formation was confirmed by a 100-fold decrease in sensitivity to vancomycin. To determine whether the antibiotic slow-release phase is sufficient to block biofilm formation, PMMA discs with antibiotics were preeluted for 14 days with multiple saline changes prior to bacterial inoculation. After antibiotic elution, still no detectable biofilms formed on PMMA discs with antibiotics (≤ 15 CFUs/disc, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: Antibiotic release during both the initial and slow-release phases prevented biofilm formation on PMMA with the proprietary pore structure. This may translate into improved infection eradication rates clinically.