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Fibronectin concentrations in catheter sepsis
1Microbiological Laboratory, Institute for Public Health, Varazdin, I. Mestrovića bb, Croatia. opca-bolnica-varazdin@vz.tel,hr
Objectives:
To investigate the role of fibronectin in the pathogenesis of biomaterial-related infections and the influence of catheter sepsis on the concentration of plasma fibronectin during various stages of bacteremia.
Methods:
Plasma fibronectin concentrations were determined by the simple radial immunodiffusion method. Four groups of subjects were used: one group comprised patients with catheter sepsis, the second patients with local inflammation of the catheter insertion site caused by slime-positive, coagulase-negative staphylococci, the third patients with slime-negative, coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from the catheter, and the fourth demonstrably healthy persons.
Results:
In patients with catheter sepsis, fibronectin concentrations were found after the disappearance of catheter sepsis and 3--5 days after the removal of the catheter. A statistically significant decrease in fibronectin concentration was detected in the plasma of patients with catheter sepsis compared with other groups of patients and control subjects.
Conclusions:
The above results indicate a pathogenic role for fibronectin in biomaterial-related infections.