Fig. 5.

Zn–2Ag alloy implants could effectively prevent MRSA-induced femoral osteomyelitis in rats. (a) Digital X-ray images and quantitative results of the rat femurs at indicated times; (b) number of bacterial colonies of bacterial cultures (peri-implant bone tissues and implanted nails) obtained using the sonication method at 3 and 6 weeks. (c) Hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining of longitudinal sections of the rat femur at 3 and 6 weeks after implantation of Ti and Zn–2Ag intramedullary nails; MRSA-induced infection was almost completely suppressed in the Zn–2Ag group. (Data presented as mean ± SD, **p < 0.01).