TY - JOUR
T1 - In vitro bacterial adherence to ventriculoperitoneal shunts
AU - Livni, G.
AU - Yuhas, Y.
AU - Ashkenazi, S.
AU - Michowiz, S.
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Bacterial adherence to medical devices has been recognized as an important initial step in the infectious process, but it has not been fully elucidated regarding ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively determine the adherence in vitro of bacteria known to cause VP shunt infections and to identify factors affecting the process. Clinical isolates studied included Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. Adherence was examined quantitatively per square centimeter, visualized by electron microscopy and related to slime production and hydrophobicity. Although all four strains adhered to VP shunts, there were marked differences, with S. epidermidis and S. aureus showing the highest adherence (67.0 × 103 and 15.2 × 103 bacteria/cm2, respectively). Factors affecting adherence included incubation time and temperature, bacterial concentration, device material (lower for silicone than Teflon), slime production and hydrophobicity. These data might be helpful for devising novel strategies to reduce VP shunt infections.
AB - Bacterial adherence to medical devices has been recognized as an important initial step in the infectious process, but it has not been fully elucidated regarding ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts. The aim of the present study was to quantitatively determine the adherence in vitro of bacteria known to cause VP shunt infections and to identify factors affecting the process. Clinical isolates studied included Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. Adherence was examined quantitatively per square centimeter, visualized by electron microscopy and related to slime production and hydrophobicity. Although all four strains adhered to VP shunts, there were marked differences, with S. epidermidis and S. aureus showing the highest adherence (67.0 × 103 and 15.2 × 103 bacteria/cm2, respectively). Factors affecting adherence included incubation time and temperature, bacterial concentration, device material (lower for silicone than Teflon), slime production and hydrophobicity. These data might be helpful for devising novel strategies to reduce VP shunt infections.
KW - Adherence, bacterial
KW - Bacteria
KW - Hydrophobicity
KW - Meningitis
KW - Ventriculoperitoneal shunts
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=4043090775&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1159/000078910
DO - 10.1159/000078910
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C2 - 15292635
AN - SCOPUS:4043090775
SN - 1016-2291
VL - 40
SP - 64
EP - 69
JO - Pediatric Neurosurgery
JF - Pediatric Neurosurgery
IS - 2
ER -