IRON AND INFECTION - NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS

Unsaturated transferrin in plasma ensures that the amount of free ferr ic iron available to bacteria is about 10(-18) mol/L. This low iron en vironment is essential for the bacteriostatic and bactericidal systems in blood, lymph, and exudates, Antibacterial systems are abolished wh en iron becomes freely available, This results in rapid extracellular bacterial growth and greatly increased bacterial virulence, In human p lasma, a fall in E(h) (oxidation-reduction potential) or pH results in the abolition or marked reduction of its bactericidal properties. Thi s is highly relevant to infection after trauma, where a fail in E(h) a nd pH frequently accompanies tissue damage. Bacterial resistance to an tibiotics has put the treatment of serious infections in jeopardy, Rei nforcement of natural means of resistance needs to be explored, as wel l as examining new antibacterials that interfere with bacterial iron m etabolism.