INFLUENCE OF DEXTROSE DIALYSIS SOLUTIONS ON ADHESION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS AND PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA TO 3 CATHETER SURFACES

Peritonitis is a serious problem associated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. The process can be initiated by intraluminal con tamination and colonization of the peritoneal cavity as well as by bac terial adhesion to biomaterials, including catheters and exit site dre ssings. The aim of this study was to determine the degree to which two pathogenic organisms could adhere to three biomaterial surfaces, and the extent to which dextrose concentration influenced the binding and survival. Using a 24-hour in vitro assay, it was found that the Staphy lococcus aureus strain consistently adhered significantly better than the Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate, and only the adhesion of the latte r was decreased with higher concentrations of dextrose in dialysis sol utions. Electron microscopy demonstrates that within this short time p eriod, bacterial biofilms had begun to form on the catheter surfaces.