Bactericidal activity of gentamicin against S. aureus: In vitro study questions value of prolonged high concentrations

Abstract

Bactericidal activity of gentamicin against 4 strains of Staphylococcus aureus was investigated in vitro using Mueller-Hinton broth (MH) and surgical wound fluid (WF) as test media. 6 concentrations of gentamicin were tested ranging from 1–1024 µg/mL During the first hour of incubation, there was a marked concentration-dependent kill rate, approximately 3 × 103 times in WF and 102 times in MH. After the first hour of incubation, the kill rate was independent of the concentration in both media. Our study questions the benefit of the prolonged and high wound concentrations of gentamicin obtained after application of gentamicin-containing PMMA.