PHOSPHOLIPID IMPREGNATION OF ABDOMINAL RUBBER DRAINS - RESISTANCE TO BACTERIAL ADHERENCE BUT NOT EFFECT ON DRAIN-INDUCED BACTERIAL TRANSLOCATION

In order to evaluate the effect of surface modification of biomaterial s on bacterial adherence and bacterial translocation after intraperito neal biomaterial implantation, phosphatidylcholine- or phosphatidylino sitol-impregnated rubber drain pieces, which had been intraperitoneall y implanted in the rat for 2 and 7 days, or unimplanted, were incubate d in vitro with H-3-labelled Escherichia coli and Enterobacter cloacae . As compared with unimpregnated pieces, the adherence of bacteria sig nificantly decreased to phosphatidylcholine- and phosphatidylinositol- impregnated rubber drain pieces that were either unimplanted or implan ted for 2 days, but not for 7 days. The supplementation of albumin in the medium reduced the adherence of bacteria to the unimplanted, unimp regnated drain pieces, but did not further decrease adherence of bacte ria to the unimplanted, phospholipid-impregnated brain pieces. Bacteri al growth was inhibited after incubation in nutrient broth supplemente d with phospholipids. The incidence of enteric bacterial translocation induced by intraperitoneal drain implantation did not differ between phospholipid-impregnated and unimpregnated drain pieces. Scanning elec tron microscopy revealed a large amount of biofilm and fibrous deposit ion on the surface of the implanted, phospholipid-impregnated rubber d rain pieces. Thus, phospholipid impregnation of rubber drains reduces bacterial adherence and inhibits bacterial growth, without influencing the incidence of bacterial translocation.