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Persistence of polymicrobial abscesses in the poorly controlled diabetic host
Diabetes
|April 1, 1986
Summary
Diabetic mice show increased susceptibility to polymicrobial soft tissue infections, with bacteria persisting longer. Bacteroides fragilis, particularly with enterococci, demonstrated greater pathogenicity in diabetic subjects.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Diabetic Complications
Background:
- Polymicrobial soft tissue infections are common in diabetic patients' lower extremities.
- Understanding host-pathogen dynamics in diabetic individuals is crucial for effective treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the susceptibility and persistence of polymicrobial soft tissue infections in diabetic versus nondiabetic mice.
- To investigate the role of specific bacterial combinations, including *Bacteroides fragilis*, in these infections.
Main Methods:
- Induction of subcutaneous abscesses in diabetic and nondiabetic mice using combinations of *E. coli*, enterococcus, and *Bacteroides fragilis* (*B. fragilis*).
- Quantification of bacterial colony counts at 1 and 2 weeks post-infection.
- Assessment of *B. fragilis* eradication and synergistic effects between bacterial species.
Main Results:
- Diabetic mice exhibited significantly higher bacterial counts at 2 weeks across all tested groups compared to nondiabetic mice.
- *Bacteroides fragilis* persisted in diabetic mice abscesses at 2 weeks, whereas it was eradicated in nondiabetic mice.
- Enterococci showed a synergistic effect on *B. fragilis* growth in diabetic mice, more so than *E. coli*.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial pathogens in polymicrobial soft tissue infections persist longer in diabetic hosts.
- *Bacteroides fragilis* exhibits increased pathogenicity in diabetic mice, especially when coinfected with enterococci.