Augmentation of antibiotic activity by low-frequency electric and electromagnetic fields examining Staphylococcus aureus in broth media.

Systemic treatment of biomaterial-associated bacterial infections with high doses of antibiotics is an established therapeutic concept. The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine the influence of magnetic, electromagnetic, and electric fields on gentamicin-based, antibiotic therapy. It has been previously reported that these fields are successful in the treatment of bone healing and reducing osteitis in infected tibia-pseudarthroses.

New anti-infective coatings of surgical sutures based on a combination of antiseptics and fatty acids.

Wound infection is a complication feared in surgery. The aim of this study was to develop new anti-infective coatings of surgical sutures and to compare the anti-microbial effectiveness and biocompatibility to the well-established Vicryl Plus. Synthetic absorbable PGA surgical sutures were coated with three different chlorhexidine concentrations and two different octenidine concentrations in combination with palmitic acid and lauric acid.