Interest exists in finding alternatives to current management strategies in periprosthetic joint infections, which typically include a 2-stage revision with placement of an antibiotic spacer and delayed placement of a new implant. We studied the efficacy of autoclaving, ultrasonication, and mechanical scrubbing for sterilization and biofilm eradication on infected cobalt-chrome discs.
Strains of Staphylococcus aureus MRSA252 or Staphylococcus epidermidis RP62A were grown on the discs. For each strain, discs were divided into 5 groups (5 discs each) and exposed to several sterilization and biofilm eradication treatments: (1) autoclave, (2) autoclave + sonication, (3) autoclave + saline scrub, (4) autoclave + 4% chlorhexidine (CHC) scrub, and (5) autoclave + sonication + CHC scrub. Sterilization and biofilm eradication were quantified with crystal violet assays and scanning electron microscopy.
Relative to nontreated controls, autoclaving alone reduced biofilm load by 33.9% and 54.7% for MRSA252 and RP62A strains, respectively. Biofilm removal was maximized with the combined treatment of autoclaving and CHC scrub for MRSA252 (100%) and RP62A (99.5%). The addition of sonication between autoclaving and CHC scrubbing resulted in no statistically significant improvement in biofilm removal. High-resolution scanning electron microscopy revealed no cells or biofilm for this combined treatment.
Using 2 commonly encountered bacterial strains in periprosthetic joint infection, infected cobalt-chrome discs were sterilized and eradicated of residual biofilm with a combination of autoclaving and CHC scrubbing.