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Effect of heparin and heparin fractions on experimental abscess formation
Insights
Heparin and its fractions did not reduce the number of abscesses when combined with gentamicin. However, these combinations did significantly decrease abscess size compared to controls in an E. coli infection model.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Disease
- Pharmacology
- Surgical Research
Background:
- Intra-abdominal abscesses are a common complication of bacterial infections.
- Heparin and its fractions have shown potential antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Evaluating adjunct therapies to antibiotics is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of heparin and its fractions in preventing or reducing abscess formation caused by Escherichia coli in a rat model.
- To determine if heparin or its fractions, when combined with gentamicin, offer additional benefits over gentamicin alone in managing intra-abdominal infections.
Main Methods:
- Rats were experimentally infected with Escherichia coli within a fibrin clot in the peritoneal cavity.
- Groups received treatments including saline, gentamicin, heparin, or heparin fractions (PK10169, CY216), alone or in combination with gentamicin.
- Abscess formation, incidence, and size were assessed in survivors after ten days.
Main Results:
- All control animals developed abscesses, indicating a successful infection model.
- Gentamicin significantly reduced abscess formation across all treatment groups that included it.
- Neither heparin nor its fractions, when added to gentamicin, further decreased the *number* of abscesses compared to gentamicin alone.
- However, heparin and its fractions in combination with gentamicin significantly reduced the *size* of abscesses compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Gentamicin is effective in decreasing the incidence of intra-abdominal abscesses.
- While heparin and its fractions do not enhance the anti-abscess *incidence* effect of gentamicin, they can significantly reduce the *size* of abscesses when used in combination.
- Further research may explore the specific mechanisms by which heparin and its fractions modulate abscess size in bacterial infections.
Abstract:
To evaluate the effectiveness of heparin and heparin fractions in decreasing abscess formation, rats were divided into six groups. A fibrin clot containing 10(9) live Escherichia coli was placed in the peritoneal cavity of each rat. Group 1 (controls) received daily subcutaneous (SQ) injections of 0.1 mL of saline solution. Group 2 received daily intramuscular injections of gentamicin, 12.5 mg/kg. Group 3 received a daily SQ dose of 30 U of porcine heparin. In addition to gentamicin, group 4 received heparin, group 5 received heparin fraction PK10169, and group 6 received heparin fraction CY216, all in daily SQ doses of 30 U. Survivors were killed at ten days and examined for intra-abdominal abscesses. All group 1 animals developed abscesses. Abscess formation was significantly decreased in all groups receiving gentamicin. When used with gentamicin, neither heparin nor heparin fractions decreased the number of abscesses formed when compared with gentamicin alone. Heparin or heparin fractions in combination with gentamicin did decrease abscess size significantly when compared with controls.