ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CEFAZOLIN‐IMPREGNATED MESH GRAFTS

Background:  The aim of this study is the preparation and characterization of cefazolin‐impregnated meshes (Surgipro; Tyco Healthcare USSC, Norwalk, CT, USA) to be used as antimicrobial devices. Methods:  During the impregnation, poly( dl ‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) solution with cephazolin in dichloromethane was used as coating material. In vitro release experiment was carried out first; later cefazolin‐impregnated meshes were evaluated for the characteristics of antimicrobial efficacy and in the last part of the study native and cefazolin‐impregnated meshes were implanted in the rats. Cefazolin content was proposed as the effective parameter to control the cefazolin release rate and it was concluded that the higher amounts of initial cefazolin content caused higher release rates. In all cases (or with different cefazolin content for each mesh), the release rates were very rapid in the first 24 h and in the following periods rather slow release rates were obtained. Results:  Antimicrobial activity was increased in the case of cefazolin‐impregnated form and this efficiency was also increased by the higher amount of cefazolin in certain mesh pieces. Similar antimicrobial activities were observed in the in vitro studies. Conclusion:  In this study, almost all of the cefazolin‐impregnated mesh grafts showed very high antimicrobial activity compared with the bare mesh (or mesh without cefazolin).