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Interactions of vancomycin resistant enterococci with biomaterial surfaces
S H Su1, J W Eaton, R A Venezia
1Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
ASAIO Journal (American Society for Artificial Internal Organs : 1992)
|November 27, 1998
Summary
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci adhere better to biomaterials in vitro. However, vancomycin-sensitive strains persist longer in vivo, suggesting cell wall changes influence device-associated infections.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Enterococci are a common cause of hospital-acquired infections, often linked to indwelling medical devices.
- The rise of vancomycin-resistant (VR) enterococci raises concerns about device-associated infections, but the impact of resistance on pathogenesis is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of vancomycin resistance on the adherence and persistence of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis on biomaterial surfaces.
- To compare vancomycin-sensitive (VS) and VR enterococci in vitro and in vivo models of biomaterial-centered infection.
Main Methods:
- Utilized polyethylene terephthalate (PET) disks as model biomaterial surfaces.
- Assessed bacterial adherence and persistence in vitro using plasma-coated PET disks.
- Evaluated bacterial clearance and persistence in vivo following intraperitoneal injection in mice with biomaterial implants.
Main Results:
- In vitro, VR enterococci demonstrated approximately twice the adherence to plasma-coated PET surfaces compared to VS strains.
- In vivo, clearance of free-circulating VR and VS enterococci was similar in mice.
- However, VS enterococci pre-adherent to biomaterial implants exhibited 5- to 10-fold greater persistence in vivo than pre-adherent VR strains.
Conclusions:
- Bacterial cell wall composition differences between VR and VS enterococci may significantly impact bacterial adhesion and survival on biomaterials.
- These findings highlight a complex relationship between vancomycin resistance, bacterial adherence, and in vivo persistence in the context of device-associated infections.