Role of Implantable Drug Delivery Devices with Dual Platform Capabilities in the Prevention and Treatment of Bacterial Osteomyelitis

As medicine advances and physicians are able to provide patients with innovative solutions, including placement of temporary or permanent medical devices that drastically improve quality of life of the patient, there is the persistent, recurring problem of chronic bacterial infection, including osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis can manifest as a result of traumatic or contaminated wounds or implant-associated infections. This bacterial infection can persist as a result of inadequate treatment regimens or the presence of biofilm on implanted medical devices. One strategy to mitigate these concerns is the use of implantable medical devices that simultaneously act as local drug delivery devices (DDDs). This classification of device has the potential to prevent or aid in clearing chronic bacterial infection by delivering effective doses of antibiotics to the area of interest and can be engineered to simultaneously aid in tissue regeneration. This review will provide a background on bacterial infection and current therapies as well as current and prospective implantable DDDs, with a particular emphasis on local DDDs to combat bacterial osteomyelitis.