HOST-BACTERIA INTERACTIONS IN FOREIGN-BODY INFECTIONS

Persistent staphylococcal infections are a major medical problem, espe cially when they occur on implanted materials or intravascular cathete rs. This review describes some of the recently discovered molecular me chanisms of Staphylococcus aureus attachment to host proteins coating biomedical implants. These interactions involve specific surface prote ins, called bacterial adhesins, that recognize specific domains of hos t proteins deposited on indwelling devices, such as fibronectin, fibri nogen, or fibrin. Elucidation of molecular mechanisms of S aureus adhe sion to the different host proteins may lead to the development of spe cific inhibitors blocking attachment of S aureus, which may decrease t he risk of bacterial colonization of indwelling devices.