Introduction: Infection after internal fixation surgery is an orthopedic serious complication which affect the fracture healing. The primary objective of this study was to verify the effects of a Peptide Mel4-coated titanium plate applied in the treatment of infection after internal fixation of open fracture.
Materials and methods: Eighty-eight rabbits were intravenously inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa suspensions. Bacterial cultures were obtained from titanium plates at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th days. Blood samples were collected at 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th days after the infection.
Results: Mel4-coated titanium plates have significant inhibitory effects on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P < 0.05), and there are significant differences in serum IL-1 and TNF-α levels (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: We suggest that the use of Mel4-coated titanium plates may be a promising way to control postoperative infection of open fracture in vivo.
Keywords: Antimicrobial cationic peptides; Biofilm; Fracture fixation; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Staphylococcus aureus.
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