Body, Heal Thyself

Experts Say A Dose Of The Body’s Own Platelets Can Speed Recovery From Injuries

Antibacterial effect of autologous platelet gel enriched with growth factors and other active substances

 VITRO STUDY

T. M. Bielecki, MD, PhD, Orthopaedic Surgeon1; T. S. Gazdzik, MD, PhD, Professor1; J. Arendt, MD, PhD, Professor2; T. Szczepanski, MD, PhD, Pediatrician3; W. Król, MD, PhD, Professor4; and T. Wielkoszynski, MD, PhD, Senior Researcher5

1 Department and Clinic of Orthopaedics, Medical University of Silesia, Pl. Medyków 1, 41-200, Sosnowiec, Poland.
2 Department and Clinic of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Medical University of Silesia, Ul. Zeromskiego 13, 41-300, Bytom, Poland.
3 Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical University of Silesia, Ul. 3 Maja 13-15, 41-800, Katowice, Poland.
4 Department of Microbiology and Immunology
5 Department of Biochemistry, Medical University of Silesia, Ul. Jordana 19, 41-800, Katowice, Poland.

Platelet-rich plasma is a new inductive therapy which is being increasingly used for the treatment of the complications of bone healing, such as infection and nonunion. The activator for platelet-rich plasma is a mixture of thrombin and calcium chloride which produces a platelet-rich gel.

We analysed the antibacterial effect of platelet-rich gel in vitro by using the platelet-rich plasma samples of 20 volunteers. In vitro laboratory susceptibility to platelet-rich gel was determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc-diffusion method. Baseline antimicrobial activity was assessed by measuring the zones of inhibition on agar plates coated with selected bacterial strains.

Zones of inhibition produced by platelet-rich gel ranged between 6 mm and 24 mm (mean 9.83 mm) in diameter. Platelet-rich gel inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and was also active againstEscherichia coli. There was no activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, andPseudomonas aeruginosa. Moreover, platelet-rich gel seemed to induce the in vitro growth of Ps. aeruginosa, suggesting that it may cause an exacerbation of infections with this organism. We believe that a combination of the inductive and antimicrobial properties of platelet-rich gel can improve the treatment of infected delayed healing and nonunion.