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Published on: January 7, 2019
Bacterial translocation across ePTFE vascular graft surfaces
Supriya Narasimhan1, Saima Aslam, Peter H Lin
1Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA. narasimh@bcm.edu
Objectives:
Vascular graft infections arise from bacterial colonization of either the external or internal graft surfaces. We assessed whether methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli could translocate through pores of ePTFE grafts.
Methods:
To assess translocation from the internal to the external surface, we placed 10(5) cfu of bacterial suspension inside ePTFE graft segments and suspended them in sterile broth for 72 h. To assess translocation from the external to the internal surface, we placed sterile broth inside ePTFE segments, and incubated them for 72 h in a bacterial suspension (10(5) cfu/mL). At 72 h, in addition to culturing the sterile broth and bacterial suspensions, the external and internal surfaces were first qualitatively cultured separately and then quantitatively cultured by sonication.
Results:
At 72 h, the sterile broth remained sterile. The bacterial suspensions yielded 10(7)-10(9) cfu/mL. Graft cultures indicated that colonization of one surface with either organism did not result in bacterial translocation to the other surface. Quantitative bacterial counts of the external vs. internal surfaces were significantly different (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
MRSA and E. coli do not translocate across ePTFE graft surfaces. These in-vitro findings help elucidate the pathogenesis of graft infections and prompt conduction of validation studies in-vivo.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli did not move through expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft pores in vitro. These findings suggest MRSA and E. coli do not translocate across ePTFE graft surfaces.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Science
- Infectious Diseases
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Vascular graft infections are a serious complication.
- Bacterial colonization can occur on external or internal graft surfaces.
- Understanding bacterial translocation is key to preventing infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli can translocate through expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) graft pores.
- To investigate bacterial movement between the internal and external surfaces of ePTFE grafts.
Main Methods:
- ePTFE graft segments were incubated with bacterial suspensions (MRSA or E. coli) for 72 hours.
- Translocation was assessed by culturing internal and external graft surfaces and surrounding media.
- Both qualitative and quantitative culture methods were employed.
Main Results:
- Bacterial suspensions consistently showed high bacterial counts (10^7-10^9 cfu/mL).
- No bacterial translocation was detected from one graft surface to the other.
- Quantitative cultures revealed significant differences between internal and external surface bacterial counts (p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- MRSA and E. coli do not appear to translocate across ePTFE graft surfaces in vitro.
- These findings contribute to understanding the pathogenesis of ePTFE graft infections.
- In vivo validation studies are warranted to confirm these in vitro results.
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