REDUCTION OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI ADHERENCE TO RUBBER SLICES TREATED WITHPHOSPHOLIPIDS

The present study aimed at modifying the surface of biliary drain mate rial to reduce bacterial adherence. The adherence of cells of seven E. coli strains to rubber slices treated with phosphatidylcholin (PC) or phosphatidylinositol (PI) and the adherence of cells of E. coli strai n NG7C to PC- or PI-treated rubber slices implanted in the common bile duct in rats were studied in vitro. The rubber slices were incubated with 1x10(7) cfu radiolabeled E. coli cells/ml at 37 degrees C for 60 min and then drained and washed thrice in 2 ml PBS, and adherent E. co li cells were quantified by radioactivity counting. The results show t hat both PC and PI absorbed on the surface of slices reduced the adher ence of E. coli cells in at least two ways, i.e. by changing surface p roperties in vitro and by reducing deposition of host-derived molecule s on phospholipid-treated surfaces in vivo. The results may be of use for modification of the biomaterial surface in the clinical situation.