Low-dose clindamycin irrigation effectively decontaminates particulate bone grafts: Study

The authors conducted a non-randomized parallel-group study on samples from 17 patients. The particulate bone collected during implant site preparation was divided into three portions by weight: in group S1, the particulate bone was immersed in thioglycolate broth without any antibiotic treatment; in group S2, the collected particulate bone was irrigated with 100 mL clindamycin solution (20 μg/mL); and in group S3, the collected particulate bone was soaked in one ml clindamycin solution (20 μg/mL) for 3 min. Samples in the three groups were cultured in aerobic and anaerobic media and species and CFU count of isolated bacteria were determined.

The following findings were observed-

a. Analysis of the data demonstrated a significant difference among the three groups in the mean count of total microorganisms (P = 0.001).

b. The difference in the mean count of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms in the three groups were statistically significant as well (P = 0.001).

c. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the only microorganism that was not affected with the mentioned antibiotic.

Therefore, the researchers concluded that "Local use of low-dose clindamycin (20 μg/mL)—irrigation or 3 min immersing—is effective for the decontamination of particulate bone grafts."