Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2014; 27(02): 97-101
DOI: 10.3415/VCOT-13-03-0037
Original Research
Schattauer GmbH

Sterilization by gamma radiation of antibiotic impregnated polymethylmethacrylate and plaster of Paris beads

A pilot study
P. Trencart
1   University of Montreal, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, St Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
,
Y. A. Elce
1   University of Montreal, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, St Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
2   University of Montreal, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, St Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
,
E. Rodriguez Batista
1   University of Montreal, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, St Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
,
G. Michaud
1   University of Montreal, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, St Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Our thanks to Bruno Laventure and the Centre de Recherche of Agriculture and Agroalimentaire Canada for the sterilization by radiation. This project was supported by the Fonds de Recherche Clinique de Pfizer Santé Animale.
Further Information

Publication History

Received: 15 March 2013

Accepted: 03 November 2013

Publication Date:
20 December 2017 (online)

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Summary

Introduction

Ethylene oxide is currently recommended for sterilization of antibiotic impregnated beads; however this method carries health risks to personnel and is becoming less available.

Objective

To perform a pilot study of the effect of radiation for sterilization of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and plaster of Paris (POP) beads impregnated with amikacin, enrofloxacin, and ceftiofur.

Hypothesis

Radiation would effectively sterilize the beads without affecting the efficacy of the antibiotic.

Materials and methods

Beads of PMMA and POP were prepared in a clean but nonsterile manner with one of the three antibiotics (amikacin, enrofloxacin, ceftiofur) or no antibiotic. Beads were then exposed to radiation for a total dose of 0 kiloGray (kGy), 10 kGy and 25 kGy. Beads were incubated on Mueller-Hinton agar plates seeded with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa for 24 hours or cultured in brain-heart infusion broth for 48 hours. Zones of inhibition were measured on the agar plates and statistics were performed on the diameters of the zones of inhibition using an analysis of variance.

Results

There were no differences in the diameters of inhibition for all levels of radiation for all PMMA beads. The same was true with POP beads with the exception of enrofloxacin which had a significantly decreased zone of inhibition with increased levels of radiation, though the clinical significance of this finding was not assessed. Only beads without antibiotics and not exposed to radiation had bacterial growth.

Clinical significance

Radiation may be an effective method of sterilization for antibiotic impregnated beads.