A new antibacterial carrier of hyaluronic acid gel.

Background: Postoperative infection following total joint arthroplasty is thought to be one of the most serious and devastating complications. To develop an effective treatment for this complication, we tested a bioabsorbable antibacterial carrier that is made from novel cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) gel and gentamicin (GM).

Methods: Antibacterial activity of the carrier was evaluated by the agar diffusion test, direct contact test, in vivo mouse model, and in vivo rabbit osteomyelitis model.

Antibiotic-containing hyaluronic acid gel as an antibacterial carrier: Usefulness of sponge and film-formed HA gel in deep infection.

We have developed a novel bioabsorbable antibacterial carrier using hyaluronic acid (HA) gel for prevention and treatment of orthopedic infections. In this study, we investigated the in vivo antibacterial effects of two forms of this new material, an HA gel sponge and an HA gel film. A titanium cylinder was inserted into the intramedullary cavity of each rabbit femur, along with an HA gel sponge or HA gel film containing antibiotics.