Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of gentamycin containing collagen in groin wound infections after vascular reconstruction.

Fourteen patients with localised groin wound graft infection after vascular reconstruction were included in this study to evaluate the clinical effect and the pharmacokinetic profile of gentamycin containing collagen for local antibiotic treatment. All patients were treated by surgical revision and the implantation of one collagen sponge containing 130 mg gentamycin in addition to systemic antibiotics. At follow-up (median 10 months, range 6-15 months), 13 of the 14 patients were cured with a patent reconstruction, giving a success rate in this series of 93%. The pharmacokinetic study showed a very high initial gentamycin concentration in wound fluid, which neatly exceeded the MIC values for most bacteria normally considered resistant to gentamycin. These high MIC values were sustained for 2 to 3 days. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a good clinical effect of gentamycin containing collagen with a high cure rate. In the wound fluid an initial high concentration of gentamycin was achieved which lasted for 2-3 days.