Faculty Collaboration Database

Adherence of microorganisms to breast prostheses: an in vitro study. Ann Plast Surg 1989 Apr;22(4):337-42

Date

04/01/1989

Pubmed ID

2650600

DOI

10.1097/00000637-198904000-00009

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0024598023 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   21 Citations

Abstract

The quantitative and morphological characteristics of microbial adherence of four organisms--Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans--to the surfaces of different breast prostheses were observed. Semiquantitative adherence studies based on a modification of Maki's roll culture technique even after short contact times showed (1) increased microbial adherence at higher concentrations of the organisms and (2) differences in adherence properties between gram-positive bacteria and other organisms tested, noted also at lower organism concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify microorganisms on foam-covered prostheses, however, revealed organisms in the interstitial spaces that were not recovered by the plating technique. Other features on SEM were extracellular "slime" produced by S. epidermidis, which appears to act as a cement by which bacteria are held against prosthetic surfaces. These in-vitro findings suggest that brief exposure of the prostheses to a few organisms, particularly gram-positive bacteria, at the time of implantation would be sufficient inoculum for bacterial adherence to prosthetic surfaces.

Author List

Sanger JR, Sheth NK, Franson TR

Author

James R. Sanger MD Professor in the Plastic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Bacterial Adhesion
Bacterial Infections
Breast
Candida albicans
Colony Count, Microbial
Escherichia coli
In Vitro Techniques
Polytetrafluoroethylene
Prostheses and Implants
Silicones
Staphylococcus aureus
Staphylococcus epidermidis