In vitro study of the properties influencing Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion to prosthetic vascular graft materials

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Ann. Surg.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1097/00000658-198711000-00010· OSTI ID:5851528

Harris, J M; Martin, L F

This study examines the influence of the properties of various vascular graft materials on the bacterial adherence process of two different strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis (mucous and normucous producing). Dacron grafts (both knitted and woven), Teflon grafts, and Dacron grafts coated with one and two layers of silicone were studied because these materials differ significantly in porosity, hydrophobicity, and surface charge (zeta potential). Graft segments were immersed in /sup 3/H-labeled bacteria solution for periods ranging from 5 to 180 minutes and liquid scintillation techniques were used to quantify bacterial adherence. The porous knitted Dacron material had a significantly higher rate of bacterial adherence than either the woven Dacron or Teflon (p less than 0.05). Silicone coating (either one or two layers) reduced adherence by a factor of four for the knitted Dacron (p less than 0.05) and by a factor of two for woven Dacron (p less than 0.05). The mucous producing strain of S. epidermidis displayed significantly better adherence to woven and knitted Dacron than the normucous producing strain, but only when 0.25% dextrose was added to the bacteria solution. These findings indicate that the highly porous knitted Dacron grafts have the highest propensity for bacterial adhesion. Graft materials with the most negative zeta potentials are more resistant to bacterial adherence. Silicone coating of Dacron material significantly changed adherence characteristics, suggesting that this may be a viable strategy for protecting implantable medical devices containing materials to which bacteria readily adhere.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State Univ., Hershey
• OSTI ID: 5851528
• Journal Information: Ann. Surg.; (United States), Vol. 206:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
PROSTHESES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
STAPHYLOCOCCUS
ADHESION
GRAFTS
IN VITRO
POLYTETRAFLUOROETHYLENE
POROSITY
SCINTILLATION COUNTING
SILICONES
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
BACTERIA
COUNTING TECHNIQUES
FLUORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MEDICAL SUPPLIES
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
ORGANIC SILICON COMPOUNDS
POLYETHYLENES
POLYMERS
POLYOLEFINS
SILOXANES
TRANSPLANTS
550600* - Medicine
550701 - Microbiology- Tracer Techniques