Bacterial adherence to different meshes used in abdominal surgery

Ramon Pérez-Tanoira1, Maria-Carolina Isea-Peña, Angel Celdrán

  • 11 Department of Microbiology, IIS-Fundación Jiménez Díaz , Madrid, Spain .

Surgical Infections
|November 29, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mesh material and morphology impact bacterial adhesion in abdominal wall prostheses. Certain prostheses reduce adherence of Staphylococcus and Mycobacterium species, crucial for preventing mesh infections.

Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Surgical Innovation

Background:

  • Abdominal wall prostheses are prone to bacterial adhesion, leading to acute and chronic infections.
  • Understanding the influence of prosthesis material and morphology is key to preventing mesh-related complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the bacterial adhesion properties of different abdominal wall prostheses.
  • To determine how material type and mesh structure affect bacterial colonization.

Main Methods:

  • Three polypropylene monofilament mesh (PMM) types were tested: high-density, low-density, and composite (low-density PMM with a hydrophilic film).
  • Microbial adhesion assays were conducted using reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Mycobacterium abscessus, and Mycobacterium fortuitum.

Main Results:

  • Polypropylene monofilament mesh (PMM) demonstrated lower adherence for Staphylococcus spp. and Mycobacterium fortuitum.
  • Mycobacterium abscessus showed reduced adherence to composite prostheses.
  • Mycobacterium spp. generally had lower adherence than Staphylococcus spp. on most materials, with exceptions noted for low-density PMM.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial adherence varies significantly based on prosthesis material, morphology, and the specific bacterial species.
  • The choice of mesh graft is critical for minimizing infection risk in abdominal wall reconstruction, with specific materials showing differential efficacy against common pathogens.

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