Experimental Osteomyelitis Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

An experimental model of chronic osteomyelitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa was established with use of techniques identical to those employed previously with Staphylococcus. Infection of bone was consistently produced, but the disease was less severe than that seen with Staphylococcus. There were lower mortality, decreased severity of infection as demonstrated by X ray, and less evidence of sequestrum formation with P. aeruginosa than with Staphylococcus. Carbenicillin was used alone and in combination with sisomicin in the treatment of experimental pseudomonas osteomyelitis. The combination, when administered for four weeks, was significantly more effective than either agent alone.