Acidity Is an Excellent Marker of Infection in Hip and Knee Arthroplasty.

Background: The diagnosis of joint replacement infection is a difficult clinical challenge that often occurs when the implant cannot be salvaged. We hypothesize that the pH value of synovial fluid could be an important indicator of the inflammatory status of the joint. However, in the literature, there is a lack of data on the pH changes in hip and knee joint replacements and their relation to infection and implant failure.

Modelling the role of membrane mechanics in cell adhesion on titanium oxide nanotubes.

Titanium surface treated with titanium oxide nanotubes was used in many studies to quantify the effect of surface topography on cell fate. However, the predicted optimal diameter of nanotubes considerably differs among studies. We propose a model that explains cell adhesion to a nanostructured surface by considering the deformation energy of cell protrusions into titanium nanotubes and the adhesion to the surface.

PCR diagnostic system in the treatment of prosthetic joint infections.

In our prospective study, we examined whether a multiplex PCR diagnostic method is suitable for the primary detection of pathogens. We also examined the possibility and sensitivity of detecting genes responsible for biofilm production and methicillin resistance. From 2007 to 2009, 94 patients were included in the study.

The effect of Vancomycin degradation products in the topical treatment of osteomyelitis.

Background: The topical application of Vancomycin is increasingly being used in orthopedics because of the development of methicillin resistant bacteria. Consequently, resistance to Vancomycin has recently been on the rise. One possible explanation for this phenomenon could be the thermal degradation of Vancomycin to antibacterially inactive crystalline degradation products (CDP-1s).

Bone grafts as vancomycin carriers in local therapy of resistant infections.

The level of an antibiotic capable of inhibiting the etiological agent at the site of infection is an essential prerequisite for successful antibiotic therapy. In some cases, locally applied antibiotics may compensate for limitations of systemic administration and shorten systemic therapy. We aimed at verifying to what extent vancomycin (Van) bound to ground bone grafts is usable in the treatment of serious infections.