Untersuchung zur thermischen Desinfektion allogener humaner Spongiosa bei 80 Grad Celsius im Vergleich zur Langzeitpasteurisation

The „Marburger Arbeitsgruppe Knochenbank“ (Marburg work group bone banking) developed the method of thermoincubation (80 degrees Celsius over 1 hour) in order to establish a safe disinfection method for bone allografts for clinical use. This study examines the efficacy of this method against bacteria which are often found in bone allografts. Representing the different groups of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus pumilis (including spore forms) were tested. Human cancellous bone cylinders were inoculated with these bacteria for that purpose. The results were compared with those of long term pasteurization (60 degrees Celsius over 10 hours). This is already an established method to disinfect blood products, but was not previously used in cancellous bone. This study shows that both procedures guarantee the bacterial safety of bone allografts. However, thermoincubation has the advantage of a shorter disinfection time of only 1 hour.