Fig 2.

Thermal stability determined for each antibiotic over time as measured by LC-MS/MS or FPIA. Antibiotic solutions were prepared and maintained at 37°C for 42 days (regular group, solid lines), or first exposed to a heat profile representative of curing bone cement, followed by exposure to body temperature for 42 days (dashed lines). Concentrations in samples taken prior to heat exposure served as 100% reference. Data are means of triplicate experiments. Statistically significant differences between measurements from the regular group and the heat exposed group are marked with an asterisk where appropriate.