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Updated: May 1, 2026
Experimental Endocarditis Model of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA in Rat
Published on: June 4, 2012
Linezolid compared with vancomycin for the prevention of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or
Suzan Sacar1, Mustafa Sacar2, Ilknur Kaleli3
1Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey.
Background:
Graft infections are severe complications of vascular surgery that may result in amputation or mortality. Staphylococci are the most frequent cause of vascular graft infections.
Objective:
In this study we assessed the prophylactic efficacy of linezolid in comparison with vancomycin in preventing prosthetic vascular graft infection due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE).
Methods:
This randomized, controlled, experimental study using healthy adult (aged >5 months) male Wistar rats was conducted in the research laboratory of the Pamukkale University, Denizli, Turkey. The study consisted of an uncontaminated control group and 3 groups for both staphylococcal strains: a contaminated group that did not receive any antibiotic prophylaxis; a contaminated group that received preoperative intraperitoneal (IP) prophylaxis with vancomycin; and a contaminated group that received preoperative IP prophylaxis with linezolid. All rats received a vascular Dacron graft placed inside a subcutaneous pocket created on the right side of the median line. Sterile saline solution (1 mL), to which MRSA or MRSE at a concentration of 2 × 10(7) colony-forming units per milliliter had been added, was inoculated onto the graft surface using a tuberculin syringe to fill the pocket. The grafts were explanted 7 days after implantation and assessed by quantitative culture.
Results:
Seventy rats (mean [SD]weight, 323.7 [17.9]g; mean [SD]age, 5.98 [0.64] months) were evenly divided between the 7 groups. Statistical analysis of the quantitative graft culture suggested that both vancomycin and linezolid were effective in significantly inhibiting bacterial growth when compared with the untreated contaminated groups (all, P < 0.001). However, a statistically significant difference was not observed between the bacteria count in the vancomycin and linezolid prophylaxis groups. When a comparison was made between the bacterial growth in the contaminated control groups, MRSA had significantly greater affinity to the Dacron prostheses than MRSE (all, P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Our study found that linezolid was as effective as vancomycin in suppressing colony counts in MRSA- or MRSE-infected vascular Dacron grafts in rats.
Insights
Linezolid and vancomycin effectively prevent vascular graft infections in rats. Both antibiotics showed similar efficacy in reducing bacterial counts, offering comparable protection against Staphylococcus infections.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Infection Prevention
- Antibiotic Prophylaxis
- Vascular Surgery Complications
Background:
- Vascular graft infections pose significant risks, including amputation and mortality.
- Staphylococci are the primary pathogens responsible for these infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prophylactic effectiveness of linezolid versus vancomycin.
- To prevent prosthetic vascular graft infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE).
Main Methods:
- A randomized, controlled experimental study was conducted in Wistar rats.
- Rats received Dacron grafts and were divided into groups receiving no prophylaxis, vancomycin, or linezolid before inoculation with MRSA or MRSE.
- Graft cultures were assessed after 7 days to quantify bacterial growth.
Main Results:
- Both vancomycin and linezolid significantly inhibited bacterial growth compared to untreated controls (P < 0.001).
- No significant difference in bacterial counts was found between the vancomycin and linezolid prophylaxis groups.
- MRSA demonstrated a higher affinity for Dacron prostheses than MRSE.
Conclusions:
- Linezolid is as effective as vancomycin in suppressing bacterial colony counts in infected vascular grafts.
- Both antibiotics provide comparable prophylactic benefits against MRSA and MRSE in this rat model.
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